Calin Georgescu, the far-right frontrunner in Romania’s presidential vote, has been barred from running in May’s election, in an explosive decision that sparked violence on the streets of Bucharest and came despite pressure from Washington to “listen” to voters’ demands.

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A top Romanian court on Tuesday rejected an appeal by far-right politician Calin Georgescu to lift a ban on his candidacy in the presidential rerun. He won the first round of last year’s race before the same court annulled the election.

Romanian authorities have barred far-right pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu from taking part in May's rerun of a cancel led presidential election, prompting him on Monday to say he would challenge the decision at the Constitutional Court.

The Romanian constitutional court on Tuesday upheld a ban preventing the far-right candidate Călin Georgescu from participating in the country’s presidential election. The ruling, which is final, backed a decision by Romania’s electoral authority on Sunday to throw out Georgescu’s bid to run in May’s vote after he allegedly breached election rules.

Romanian far-right politician Calin Georgescu on Tuesday stopped short of endorsing any other potential candidate after being definitively barred from standing in May's presidential election rerun, adding to uncertainty over who would replace him.

Romania's constitutional court upholds ban on far-right populist Calin Georgescu running for president This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.