Thousands Demonstrate in NATO Member Country Against "Coup d’Etat"
Protesters in Romania are calling for “free elections” following the recent cancellation of the presidential race last month. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Romania's constitutional court annulled the results of its presidential election last month after independent candidate Calin Georgescu's victory in the first round.
On Sunday, tens of thousands gathered in Bucharest, the capital, to protest against the Constitutional Court’s decision to invalidate the presidential election results from December.
The court's ruling was prompted by Georgescu's performance, which saw him surpass all other candidates in the first round. Footage shared on social media depicted demonstrators in Bucharest honking horns and waving Romanian flags, chanting "freedom" and "bring back the second round." Some protesters carried portraits of Georgescu and Orthodox Christian icons, while others held signs reading “Democracy is not optional” and “We want free elections.”
Media outlets reported that over 100,000 people participated in the protest, according to organizers, although police estimates were reportedly lower.
The protests followed a significant moment in Romanian politics, with George Simion, leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, addressing reporters at the event. “We are protesting against the coup d’état that took place on December 6,” he stated.
Simion expressed regret over realizing late that they had been misled by those who claimed to support democracy, declaring, “We demand a return to democracy through the resumption of elections, starting with the second round.”
In the first voting round held in November, Georgescu garnered 22.94% of the votes, surpassing the liberal leftist candidate Elena Lasconi, who received 19.18%. The court's annulment of his victory came before a scheduled second-round vote, citing a legal clause intended to ensure the election's correctness and legality. The court announced a re-vote would take place at a later date.
Georgescu emphasized that a democratic state relies on the will of the people and criticized the current Romanian government for fearing a loss of power. He asserted that the authorities must respect the national vote's outcome.
The annulment was accompanied by allegations that Moscow had supported Georgescu’s campaign, a claim refuted by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who labeled it as “absolutely groundless.” She suggested that the Romanian elections unfolded amidst “an unprecedented surge of anti-Russian hysteria,” which was determined to shape the perceptions of the Romanian public.
A religious nationalist, Georgescu has been critical of both NATO and the EU and opposed Romania's involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, vowing to halt all military and political support to Kiev if he becomes president. He has voiced concerns about NATO allegedly using Romania as "a door for war," suggesting a major offensive into Russia could be in the works, particularly highlighting military build-up at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, the largest NATO facility near the Black Sea.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
On Sunday, tens of thousands gathered in Bucharest, the capital, to protest against the Constitutional Court’s decision to invalidate the presidential election results from December.
The court's ruling was prompted by Georgescu's performance, which saw him surpass all other candidates in the first round. Footage shared on social media depicted demonstrators in Bucharest honking horns and waving Romanian flags, chanting "freedom" and "bring back the second round." Some protesters carried portraits of Georgescu and Orthodox Christian icons, while others held signs reading “Democracy is not optional” and “We want free elections.”
Media outlets reported that over 100,000 people participated in the protest, according to organizers, although police estimates were reportedly lower.
The protests followed a significant moment in Romanian politics, with George Simion, leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, addressing reporters at the event. “We are protesting against the coup d’état that took place on December 6,” he stated.
Simion expressed regret over realizing late that they had been misled by those who claimed to support democracy, declaring, “We demand a return to democracy through the resumption of elections, starting with the second round.”
In the first voting round held in November, Georgescu garnered 22.94% of the votes, surpassing the liberal leftist candidate Elena Lasconi, who received 19.18%. The court's annulment of his victory came before a scheduled second-round vote, citing a legal clause intended to ensure the election's correctness and legality. The court announced a re-vote would take place at a later date.
Georgescu emphasized that a democratic state relies on the will of the people and criticized the current Romanian government for fearing a loss of power. He asserted that the authorities must respect the national vote's outcome.
The annulment was accompanied by allegations that Moscow had supported Georgescu’s campaign, a claim refuted by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who labeled it as “absolutely groundless.” She suggested that the Romanian elections unfolded amidst “an unprecedented surge of anti-Russian hysteria,” which was determined to shape the perceptions of the Romanian public.
A religious nationalist, Georgescu has been critical of both NATO and the EU and opposed Romania's involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, vowing to halt all military and political support to Kiev if he becomes president. He has voiced concerns about NATO allegedly using Romania as "a door for war," suggesting a major offensive into Russia could be in the works, particularly highlighting military build-up at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, the largest NATO facility near the Black Sea.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
