Călin Georgescu, frontrunner in Romania's cancelled election, announces withdrawal from politics

Călin Georgescu, the controversial populist whose bid for Romania's presidency last year resulted in the annulment of an election in the European Union and NATO member country, has announced he is stepping away from political life.

Georgescu upended Romania's political landscape last November when he ran as an independent and unexpectedly surged to frontrunner in the first round of the presidential election, going from an obscure candidate to beating the incumbent prime minister.

"I choose to be a passive observer of public and social life," the 63-year-old said in a video posted online late on Monday.