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.

Last week, Romanian authorities expelled two Russian diplomats, military attaché Victor Makovskiy and his deputy Evgeny Ignatiev, who were accused of foreign election interference tied to Mr. Georgescu’s campaign.

Chaos broke out in Romania’s capital as supporters of the far-right populist Calin Georgescu protested the electoral body’s decision to reject his candidacy in a presidential election redo