Romania's top court disqualified nationalist candidate Diana Sosoaca due to her pro-Russian and anti-EU views, sparking debate on constitutional powers. The ruling raised tensions within the coalition of Social Democrats and Liberals,

Romania's top court said a hardline nationalist candidate's pro-Russian, anti-European Union and anti-NATO opinions made her ineligible to run for president in an upcoming election. The Constitutional Court decided late on Saturday to remove Diana Sosoaca,

Romania’s governing coalition was thrown into turmoil after a junior partner effectively ended a three-year alliance weeks before key elections are set to shake up the political landscape in Bucharest.

By Iulian Ernst in Bucharest Romania’s constitutional court (CCR) on October 5 invalidated the presidential candidacy of far-right populist politician Diana Sosoaca, a decision that looks set to boost the position of the more moderate far-right candidate George Simion in the first round on November 24.

In November, the first round of the Romanian presidential election will take place. However, there are fewer candidates, as a pro-Russian politician was removed from the race, reports Reuters. The Romanian Supreme Court has removed a pro-Russian far-right politician from the list of presidential candidates.