Romania's BEC Rejects Sosoaca's Presidential Bid, Approves Simion

Diana Sosoaca, a controversial far-right politician in Romania, has submitted her candidacy for the upcoming presidential election rerun scheduled for May, despite being previously barred by the Constitutional Court due to her anti-EU and anti-NATO rhetoric. The Central Election Bureau has until March 15 to either approve or reject her candidacy, with rejections subject to appeal. Legal experts predict her bid will likely be rejected again based on prior court rulings. Sosoaca claims she cannot be banned twice for the same reasons and has publicly criticized the electoral system. The political landscape is tense, with other far-right candidates also attempting to position themselves following recent controversies regarding electoral integrity. The first round of the rerun will take place on May 4, and if necessary, a runoff will occur on May 18.