Official inquiry into election interference
Former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu has been officially charged with six crimes
Leyla Cheamil, 27.02.2025, 14:00
Former far-right presidential candidate Călin Georgescu has been placed under pre-trial arrest for 60 days, after prosecutors questioned him for several hours on Wednesday at the Prosecutor General’s Office, where he was brought in with a warrant. Georgescu was presented with six criminal charges, some of them in aggravated form. One of these marks a premiere for Romania – incitement to actions against the constitutional order, a crime for which no one has ever been prosecuted. Georgescu was also accused of communicating false information, making false declarations regarding financial statements and the funding of the election campaign, initiating or establishing organizations with a fascist, racist or xenophobic and anti-Semitic character and joining or supporting such groups in any form, as well as publicly promoting figures who committed genocide and war crimes. Călin Georgescu denied all allegations, accusing the authorities of employing methods that are reminiscent of the communist regime.
Last December, the Constitutional Court annulled the presidential election, invoking external interference in the election, which is set to be reorganized in full. In the second round, Călin Georgescu, who had unexpectedly managed to rank first in the Romanians’ voting options, was supposed to face the president of the USR (Save Romania Union), Elena Lasconi. After the announcement of the indictment of the former presidential candidate, Romanian politicians reasserted their trust in the judiciary and its independence. Social-Democrat Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, stressed, however, that, given the tense electoral context, judicial authorities must present extremely solid evidence in this investigation.
The leader of AUR (Alliance for the Unity of Romanians), George Simion, expressed his continuous support of Călin Georgescu’s candidacy in the presidential election. Simion said he is waiting for incontestable evidence regarding the investigation launched by the Prosecutor’s Office. In turn, USR president, Elena Lasconi, stated that she continues to have confidence in the justice system and believes that prosecutors are fulfilling their duties responsibly. In contrast, the president of POT (Young People’s Party), Ana Maria Gavrilă, accused the authorities of terrorizing Călin Georgescu’s supporters. The new presidential election is slated for May 4 and 18. Upon leaving the Prosecutor’s Office, Călin Georgescu said that he will definitely run for the presidency this spring. (VP)
