You’re biased, Romanian far-right MEP tells top court after ban from presidential race

Romanian far-right MEP Diana Șoșoacă slammed the country’s top court as “politicized” after it removed her from the list of candidates for November’s presidential elections without giving a reason.

The removal triggered an outraged, all-caps antisemitic response Sunday from Șoșoacă in which — with no evidence — she accused the European Union, Jewish people, Americans and the French of plotting against her, along with the court itself.

“It’s a very politicized institution. These judges are elected by the politicians in the parliament. [Among them] are former members of the parties of the parliament,” she told POLITICO in an exclusive interview on Monday.

While criticizing her rhetoric, some of Șoșoacă’s political opponents have also raised concerns about the nine-member court.

“Diana Șoșoacă represents all that is evil in Romanian politics,” Romanian Renew MEP Eugen Tomac told POLITICO in a statement. “[She is] a politician who supports the Kremlin’s agenda and uses the most aggressive and xenophobic language against the Jewish minority in our country. 

“However, this kind of reckless politician should not be stopped using Putin-style methods,” Tomac continued. “The Constitutional Court’s decision is questionable and hard to understand. The fundamental principles of democracy should never be put on hold in any context. Șoșoacă should be removed by voters at the polls or sanctioned by those who defend dignity and citizens’ rights through democratic processes.”

Șoșoacă, the eccentric leader of the ultra-nationalist S.O.S Romania party, was elected to the European Parliament in June. She has previously called for the EU to stop providing weapons to Kyiv and even said Romania should annex some Ukrainian territories.

During the interview with POLITICO she hit out at Israel, the United States and the secret services of both countries, which she claimed “influence[d] the court’s decision.”

Her accusations are unsubstantiated. The Israeli and U.S. embassies in Bucharest were not immediately available for comment.

Some of the judges on the court that banned her would rather she didn’t become president, the lawmaker continued.

“It’s because I am leading in presidential elections and I want to gain independence for Romania,” she said. According to a recent poll, around 13.6 percent would vote for Șoșoacă, putting her in fourth place.

If the two-round presidential election, scheduled for Nov. 24 and Dec. 8, was to take place now, current socialist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu (20.3 percent) and independent former NATO Deputy Secretary-General Mircea Geoană (21.4 percent) would move on to the second round.

The decision is final, and the court confirmed to POLITICO that appeals are not possible. Șoșoacă, however, said she will go to the International Court of Justice in The Hague if need be.

This story has been updated.