Romanian prosecutors announced on Wednesday the initiation of a criminal investigation against Calin Georgescu, the far-right candidate in the previous year's canceled presidential election. The investigation involves allegations such as promoting antisemitism. The election was nullified in December due to suspected Russian interference in support of Georgescu, a vocal critic of NATO and Western backing for Ukraine, despite Moscow's denial of involvement.
Following the annulment, prosecutors started looking into various accusations, encompassing campaign funding fraud, spreading antisemitism and hate speech, and actions against the constitutional order. After hours of interrogation on Wednesday, Georgescu is now formally under investigation for purportedly establishing an antisemitic group, advocating for war criminals and fascist organizations, and circulating false information.
Georgescu, who denies any wrongdoing, criticized the authorities on social media, drawing parallels with Romania's communist past. Amid protests by around 100 of his supporters in Bucharest, echoing "national unity" slogans, ultranationalist parliamentarians also showed their backing for him.
Supporters cheered as Georgescu exited the prosecutor's office building after being placed under judicial control for 60 days, requiring regular police check-ins. Additionally, prosecutors disclosed that they had conducted raids on 47 locations tied to Georgescu, uncovering weapons and hidden cash.
Amid plans to re-enter the presidential race, Georgescu's team questioned the democratic implications of his interrogation coinciding with the intended submission of his candidacy for the upcoming election in May.
Although Georgescu holds the lead in opinion polls for the rerun, uncertainty looms over his eligibility due to legal restrictions on promoting fascist ideologies in Romania, a prohibition that was infrequently enforced before the invalidated election.