Fans of Romanian presidential front-runner gather outside courthouse
Calin Georgescu, whose initial election victory in the first round was invalidated last year, is currently confronting multiple charges that he characterizes as politically motivated. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Calin Georgescu, whose victory in the first round of the presidential election was annulled last year, is currently facing a series of charges that he characterizes as politically motivated.
On Wednesday, numerous demonstrators assembled outside a Bucharest court where presidential candidate Calin Georgescu was present for a hearing. These activists waved flags and chanted slogans in support of Georgescu, who is battling multiple criminal charges.
In November, Georgescu, known for his criticism of NATO and the EU as well as his opposition to aiding Ukraine, achieved an unexpected win in the initial round of the national presidential election. However, Romania’s Constitutional Court quickly annulled his victory, citing alleged irregularities related to his campaign funding.
Last week, just as Georgescu was preparing to submit his candidacy for a new presidential vote, he was arrested by Romanian authorities and charged with six criminal offenses. These include alleged “voter bribery,” “promoting fascist, racist, or xenophobic ideologies,” and incitement to actions against the constitutional order. Following his arrest, he was released under court supervision with restrictions that prevent him from leaving the country, making social media posts, or appearing on television.
On Wednesday, a crowd of supporters gathered outside the 1st District Court in Bucharest, waving Romanian flags and chanting Georgescu’s name as he entered the courtroom. After the hearing, he was surrounded by press members seeking comments.
According to the Digi24 news outlet, the hearing was postponed until Thursday upon request from Georgescu’s lawyers for additional time to review documents. He expressed his faith in the judicial process, stating, “I trust the magistrate judge. I am very confident in the ruling that will take place tomorrow. […] My lawyers have made it very clear how things stand.”
Georgescu maintained his innocence, declaring that the allegations against him constitute a “political case.” In the wake of his arrest, he reached out to US President Donald Trump for assistance against what he described as a political prosecution campaign orchestrated by Romania's “deep state.”
In response, Trump’s government efficiency czar, Elon Musk, condemned the Romanian authorities' actions, characterizing them as “messed up.” US Vice President J.D. Vance also criticized Bucharest during remarks at the Munich Security Conference in February, suggesting that certain “old entrenched interests” in Romania were utilizing “ugly, Soviet-era words like misinformation and disinformation” to thwart a politician with an “alternative viewpoint” from gaining power.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
On Wednesday, numerous demonstrators assembled outside a Bucharest court where presidential candidate Calin Georgescu was present for a hearing. These activists waved flags and chanted slogans in support of Georgescu, who is battling multiple criminal charges.
In November, Georgescu, known for his criticism of NATO and the EU as well as his opposition to aiding Ukraine, achieved an unexpected win in the initial round of the national presidential election. However, Romania’s Constitutional Court quickly annulled his victory, citing alleged irregularities related to his campaign funding.
Last week, just as Georgescu was preparing to submit his candidacy for a new presidential vote, he was arrested by Romanian authorities and charged with six criminal offenses. These include alleged “voter bribery,” “promoting fascist, racist, or xenophobic ideologies,” and incitement to actions against the constitutional order. Following his arrest, he was released under court supervision with restrictions that prevent him from leaving the country, making social media posts, or appearing on television.
On Wednesday, a crowd of supporters gathered outside the 1st District Court in Bucharest, waving Romanian flags and chanting Georgescu’s name as he entered the courtroom. After the hearing, he was surrounded by press members seeking comments.
According to the Digi24 news outlet, the hearing was postponed until Thursday upon request from Georgescu’s lawyers for additional time to review documents. He expressed his faith in the judicial process, stating, “I trust the magistrate judge. I am very confident in the ruling that will take place tomorrow. […] My lawyers have made it very clear how things stand.”
Georgescu maintained his innocence, declaring that the allegations against him constitute a “political case.” In the wake of his arrest, he reached out to US President Donald Trump for assistance against what he described as a political prosecution campaign orchestrated by Romania's “deep state.”
In response, Trump’s government efficiency czar, Elon Musk, condemned the Romanian authorities' actions, characterizing them as “messed up.” US Vice President J.D. Vance also criticized Bucharest during remarks at the Munich Security Conference in February, suggesting that certain “old entrenched interests” in Romania were utilizing “ugly, Soviet-era words like misinformation and disinformation” to thwart a politician with an “alternative viewpoint” from gaining power.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
