Romania’s High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ) on April 25 overturned a ruling by the Court of Appeal in Ploiesti (CAP), Prahova County, which had sought to resume the presidential election that was annulled in December 2024 with a second ballot. The ICCJ ruled that CAP had no jurisdiction over decisions issued by the Constitutional Court (CCR), RFI reported. 

The ruling is final. The presidential election rerun will thus be held on May 4 with a second ballot on May 18.

The CAP had issued a provisional but enforceable decision on April 24 admitting a request by a private citizen, Gheorghiţa Popescu, to annul the CCR’s December 6 ruling that invalidated the presidential elections and decided a complete rerun. Judge Alexandru Vasile of the CAP argued that the CCR judges had "abusefully" interpreted the law by acting ex officio, according to a report by Radio Free Europe.

The CAP cited the Venice Commission Report, which advises that constitutional courts’ powers to invalidate elections ex officio should be limited to exceptional and clearly regulated circumstances to maintain public trust. It also noted that the CCR’s decision came after the deadlines for contesting the electoral process had expired and after voting in foreign polling stations had already commenced.

The annulled elections saw far-right politician Calin Georgescu win the first round but later face disqualification due to his extremist views.

Following the CCR’s December 6 ruling and Georgescu's failure to reverse the ruling in court, nearly 150 requests to overturn the decision have been filed across Romanian courts this April. The campaign to contest the annulment was organised by retired judge Lacramioara Axinte through the TikTok platform, with backing from Georgescu’s supporters.

Despite the CAP’s unusual ruling on April 24, the ICCJ’s swift intervention reaffirmed the supremacy of the Constitutional Court’s decisions.