Protests erupted in downtown Bucharest following the Central Electoral Bureau's decision to ban Russian-backed far-right politician Calin Georgescu from running in the upcoming re-run presidential elections.

The country’s electoral commission ruled on Sunday that Calin Georgescu, an outspoken critic of Ukraine and NATO, could not compete in the do-over election.

Analysts have said Ponta could sway some Georgescu voters away from whoever the hard-right parties put forward - giving him a chance of reaching the second round, where he could f