Far-right populist Călin Georgescu was arrested by Romanian police in Bucharest on Wednesday as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of election campaign fraud. Georgescu, who made an unexpected showing in the first round of last year’s presidential election, was stopped in traffic while on his way to submit his candidacy for the May elections, following the annulment of December’s second-round run-off by the constitutional court.
Supporters of Georgescu claim that he was en route to formalize his candidacy when he was detained. In response, two right-wing populist parties quickly mobilized their supporters to gather outside the prosecutor’s office, where Georgescu was taken for questioning. Romanian media reported that police set up barriers around the building, and dozens of protesters gathered in opposition to his detention.
Prosecutors have leveled several serious allegations against Georgescu, including undermining the constitutional order and ties to an extremist organization. These charges add to the growing tension between the Romanian government and populist opposition parties, who have already filed a no-confidence motion against the pro-European government.
Earlier this month, Romania’s outgoing president, Klaus Iohannis, resigned amid the political turmoil caused by the annulled election. Iohannis had declassified intelligence documents suggesting that hundreds of TikTok accounts were activated in support of Georgescu, with foreign intelligence alleging that Russia was behind the campaign and subsequent cyber-attacks.
Opposition figures, including Georgescu’s communications team, have claimed that the annulled election results were part of undemocratic interference, with the hashtag #WhereIsDemocracy gaining traction on social media. The populist leaders also tagged prominent figures like former US President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and US Vice-President JD Vance, who had previously criticized Romania’s actions.
Romania’s role in NATO’s eastern defense and its membership in the European Union have further complicated the political climate. Meanwhile, Romanian police conducted raids across multiple counties, targeting 27 individuals accused of forming a fascist, racist, or xenophobic organization. Investigations are also underway into false statements regarding the sources of election campaign funding. However, there is no indication yet whether these raids are directly related to Georgescu.
Georgescu, who has been accused of pro-Russian sentiments, previously praised Romania’s fascist and nationalist leaders from the 20th century. While he denied being “Moscow’s man” in a BBC interview last year, he referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “patriot and a leader,” despite clarifying, “I am not a fan.”
Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu accused Elon Musk of interfering in Romania’s elections after the billionaire publicly expressed support for Georgescu. This political drama is unfolding in a country that plays a crucial role in both NATO and the EU.
