Romania’s far-right presidential candidate to face criminal investigation

• 27 February, 01:30

Romania’s far-right, pro-Russian populist politician Călin Georgescu who run in the last year’s presidential election was detained on Wednesday. Georgescu, 62,

was stopped in traffic in capital Bucharest, on his way to register as a candidate for new elections in May. He is facing criminal proceedings on a series of charges, including incitement to actions against the constitutional order, communicating false information, promoting war criminals and fascist organisations and forming an antisemitic organisation, the prosecutors said after questioning Georgescu for several hours.

Georgescu almost won the first round of the cancelled presidential election last year. The initial presidential election was cancelled due to allegations of Russian meddling. Romanian foreign intelligence said Russia had been behind the move, as well as thousands of cyber-attacks and other sabotage. Moscow has denied any involvement in last year’s presidential election.

According to reports, Georgescu has been placed under judicial control and told not to leave Romania, which could jeopardize the politician’s bid to run in the presidential election on 4 and 18 May.  As he left the prosecutor's office, Georgescu pledged to continue to fight and said there was no difference between the communist mentality and the current system. “I - on behalf of my voters, but also of all those who, although they have other political options, want a democratic and free Romania - am fighting this security system that wants us in slavery,” he posted on Facebook on Wednesday.

Commenting on Georgescu’s detention, Donald Trump’s right-hand man Elon Musk posted on his X social media platform: “They just arrested the person who won the most votes in the Romanian presidential election. This is messed up.” Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu responded, posting on social media: “The judiciary is independent and the law must be applied regardless of persons.”