Mass Gathering Supports NATO-Skeptical Romanian Politician with Tens of Thousands in Attendance
Calin Georgescu's triumph in the initial round of last November's presidential election has been revoked. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Calin Georgescu, whose success in the first round of last November's presidential election was annulled, is now contending with charges that he describes as politically motivated.
In Bucharest on Saturday, tens of thousands of demonstrators convened to insist that a second round of the annulled Romanian presidential election be held instead of a new vote. The protests followed the Romanian Constitutional Court's December decision to annul the first round results, where right-wing candidate Georgescu received 23% of the vote.
In January, the ruling coalition of Romania approved a rerun of the presidential election, with the first round set for May 4. Should no candidate obtain more than 50% of the votes, a runoff is planned for May 18.
Authorities in Romania have cited alleged “irregularities” in Georgescu’s campaign, claiming—without evidence—that he received covert support from Russia. Known for his criticism of NATO and the EU, Georgescu is a vocal opponent of assistance to Ukraine.
The rally on Saturday, organized by the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) party, attracted participants from across the country to Bucharest’s Victory Square. Both AUR leader George Simion and Georgescu were present. Organizers asserted that nearly a million individuals attended, although various media outlets reported lower estimates.
Demonstrators in front of the government’s headquarters chanted “Down with the Government,” displaying placards calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. Reports indicated that there were isolated scuffles between protesters and the police, who maintained a significant presence in the capital.
Simon declared that Saturday's protest aimed at “returning to democracy, supporting free elections and expressing protest against the government.” He cautioned that similar demonstrations would continue until the authorities recognized the widespread dissatisfaction among the Romanian populace.
Georgescu remarked that “Romanians are fed up with corruption and state security forces,” urging protesters to “repossess our country.”
On Wednesday, police briefly detained Georgescu and conducted numerous raids on his supporters. After being questioned by the Prosecutor General’s Office, he was released but is prohibited from leaving the country, making social media posts, or appearing on television. He faces six charges, including “anti-constitutional acts” and financial misreporting, as per an official statement from the authorities.
The politician asserts that he has become a target of the Romanian “deep state.”
Earlier this week, he appealed to US President Donald Trump for assistance against what he characterized as a campaign of political persecution against him.
Georgescu's arrest was condemned by Elon Musk, a government efficiency advisor appointed by Trump, who labeled the Romanian government's actions as “messed up.”
US Vice President J.D. Vance also criticized the Bucharest government during his address at the Munich Security Conference in February.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
In Bucharest on Saturday, tens of thousands of demonstrators convened to insist that a second round of the annulled Romanian presidential election be held instead of a new vote. The protests followed the Romanian Constitutional Court's December decision to annul the first round results, where right-wing candidate Georgescu received 23% of the vote.
In January, the ruling coalition of Romania approved a rerun of the presidential election, with the first round set for May 4. Should no candidate obtain more than 50% of the votes, a runoff is planned for May 18.
Authorities in Romania have cited alleged “irregularities” in Georgescu’s campaign, claiming—without evidence—that he received covert support from Russia. Known for his criticism of NATO and the EU, Georgescu is a vocal opponent of assistance to Ukraine.
The rally on Saturday, organized by the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) party, attracted participants from across the country to Bucharest’s Victory Square. Both AUR leader George Simion and Georgescu were present. Organizers asserted that nearly a million individuals attended, although various media outlets reported lower estimates.
Demonstrators in front of the government’s headquarters chanted “Down with the Government,” displaying placards calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. Reports indicated that there were isolated scuffles between protesters and the police, who maintained a significant presence in the capital.
Simon declared that Saturday's protest aimed at “returning to democracy, supporting free elections and expressing protest against the government.” He cautioned that similar demonstrations would continue until the authorities recognized the widespread dissatisfaction among the Romanian populace.
Georgescu remarked that “Romanians are fed up with corruption and state security forces,” urging protesters to “repossess our country.”
On Wednesday, police briefly detained Georgescu and conducted numerous raids on his supporters. After being questioned by the Prosecutor General’s Office, he was released but is prohibited from leaving the country, making social media posts, or appearing on television. He faces six charges, including “anti-constitutional acts” and financial misreporting, as per an official statement from the authorities.
The politician asserts that he has become a target of the Romanian “deep state.”
Earlier this week, he appealed to US President Donald Trump for assistance against what he characterized as a campaign of political persecution against him.
Georgescu's arrest was condemned by Elon Musk, a government efficiency advisor appointed by Trump, who labeled the Romanian government's actions as “messed up.”
US Vice President J.D. Vance also criticized the Bucharest government during his address at the Munich Security Conference in February.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
