Romania’s electoral body Saturday rejected the candidacy of a controversial far-right politician in the presidential election rerun in May, but approved George Simion, the leader of the country’s most popular far-right party.

Romania's populist far-right politician George Simion made his bid Friday for the country's presidential election rerun in May as he seeks to rally nationalist voters after a controversial frontrunner in last year's annulled race was barred from entering the upcoming redo.

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Controversial Romanian politician Diana Sosoaca, who was barred by a top court from entering last year’s annulled presidential election, filed her candidacy on Thursday in an unlikely bid to enter the May rerun.

Romania's populist far-right politician George Simion is making his bid for the country’s presidential election rerun in May as he seeks to rally nationalist voters after a controversial frontrunner was barred from the race last year.

Controversial politician Diana Sosoaca, who was barred by a top court from entering last year's presidential election, raises her hand wearing boxing gloves speaking outside the country's electoral authority after she registered an unlikely bid to enter the May rerun in Bucharest, Romania on March 13. (AP)

By Iulian Ernst in Bucharest The leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), George Simion, will replace Calin Georgescu as the leading far-right candidate in the May presidential elections,