Călin Georgescu, Romania’s independent presidential candidate who won the first round of elections before they were annulled last year, was intercepted in traffic on Wednesday and taken to the General Prosecutor’s Office for questioning, raising further concerns over the state of democracy in the country.
A statement posted by Georgescu’s communication team on his official Facebook page claimed that he had been en route to submit his candidacy for the election rerun when authorities intervened.
“Today, Călin Georgescu was supposed to submit his candidacy for the new Presidency. Just 10 minutes ago, the system stopped him in traffic and he was taken for questioning at the General Prosecutor’s Office! Where is democracy now, where are the partners who should defend democracy?” the statement read.
Footage of the arrest has been widely circulated online.
— Daily Romania (@daily_romania) February 26, 2025
They pinned Georgescu against the wall like a criminal, even though he recently had a knee surgery and is still recovering
People have gathered outside the prosecutor's office, demanding Georgescu's release
Georgescu's lawyer has not been let into the building pic.twitter.com/3OYeYIJnMG
Authorities confirmed that Georgescu is under investigation as a suspect in a broad case involving multiple individuals accused of initiating or supporting extremist activities, including the establishment of fascist, racist, or xenophobic organizations, as well as the promotion of genocide-related figures and ideologies.
The Romanian Police and the Prosecutor’s Office, which is attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice (PCCJ), are leading the investigation.
On the same day, authorities also detained Horațiu Potra, a wealthy supporter of Georgescu, along with 26 other individuals. A large-scale operation spanning five counties — Sibiu, Mureș, Ilfov, Timiș, and Cluj — was launched, targeting groups and individuals suspected of promoting fascist and anti-Semitic ideologies.
The police executed 47 house searches as part of their investigation. Investigators are also probing potential illicit financing of the election campaign for the upcoming presidential elections.
Potra, a former member of the French Foreign Legion, has been accused of tax evasion and money laundering.
Judicial sources claim his businesses have funneled over $7.2 million from Africa, funds allegedly not accounted for in his Romanian tax returns. Additionally, he has been accused of training mercenaries for conflict zones, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The same sources told Mediafax on Wednesday that officers had found around $1 million in a safe buried in the floor of Horațiu Potra’s house during their search.
In a recent interview with Mario Nawfal, Georgescu predicted today’s move by the authorities as a way to discredit him.
“In my interview with Calin Georgescu, I asked him what their plan was after they canceled the election he won. He was clear: They will raid his supporters and find a way to frame him.
“His comments shook me, but I refused to believe him. Remember, the man was voted by Romanians to be their President, and Romania is part of the EU and NATO!” Nawfal wrote on X.
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 26, 2025
Romania, a member of the EU and NATO with nearly 20 million people, held a presidential election, and Călin Georgescu won. But the EU and Romanian authorities annulled the results, claiming “Russian… https://t.co/mo9FmHYhBy pic.twitter.com/Hlc2o0uZhO
The crackdown coincides with a motion of no confidence filed on Tuesday by Romania’s three opposition far-right parties against the pro-European government. The parties do not hold a parliamentary majority, but the move is being deemed in the Romanian media a PR stunt designed to increase their exposure ahead of the rerun presidential election that Georgescu remains the favorite for according to opinion polls.
Last year’s presidential election was annulled following Georgescu’s first-round victory on Nov. 24 due to allegations of Russian interference — claims denied by Moscow. The annulment drew sharp criticism from members of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.
“Friendship is based on shared values. You do not have shared values if you cancel elections because you don’t like the result — and that happened in Romania,” U.S. Vice President JD Vance told attendees of the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington D.C. on Feb. 20.
U.S. billionaire Elon Musk also labeled the chief judge responsible for annulling the election a “tyrant.”
Georgescu, known for his skepticism toward NATO and his admiration for both the U.S. and Russian presidents, still has strong support among the electorate and a perceived attempted silencing of the candidate has only further fuelled his popularity.
