One of the demonstrators stated that she believes Georgescu embodies change.
Thousands of Romanians gathered today in the center of Bucharest to support the far-right candidate Kalin Georgescu, who has been accused of making false statements following the annulment of the presidential election.
They are also calling for the resignation of the government.
The Prosecutor’s Office in Bucharest on Wednesday accused Georgescu of making false statements regarding the sources of funding for his election campaign.
One demonstrator stated that she believes he embodies change.
“Some say he’s corrupt, that he’s pro-Russian, but I’m sure he would do well if he were in power,” she commented, adding that she is against the Social Democrat Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.
Georgescu, who had been relatively unknown until then, made a surprise in the first round of the presidential elections on November 24 and came in first place.
In a rare move within the European Union, the Romanian Constitutional Court annulled the elections only two days before the second round was set to take place on December 8, citing claims of Russian interference in the process. It is suspected that Georgescu benefitted from a covert campaign of support on the TikTok platform.
Georgescu claimed that the elections were “illegally and unconstitutionally annulled” and that he did nothing illegal.
Demonstrators from all over the country gathered today in the center of Bucharest.
They carried large flags in the national colors and chanted “Down with the government. Romania, wake up.” They believe their elections were stolen after they were annulled following the first round, where Georgescu was in first place.
“The European Union is the one that destroyed us, not the Russians,” said one of the demonstrators.
Kalin Georgescu (62) was accused on Wednesday of multiple charges of making false statements, which sparked anger among his supporters.
Searches were conducted, and several people were arrested or placed under house arrest.
On Friday, the police issued an arrest warrant for former Franco-Romanian mercenary Horatiu Potra, suspected of disturbing public order and violating weapons laws. According to Romanian media, this former legionnaire had been providing security for Kalin Georgescu.
He had already been detained when, following the annulment of the presidential elections, he arrived in Budapest with weapons that, as assessed, could have been used to attempt destabilization.