Far-right populist Calin Georgescu, who won the first round of Romania’s presidential elections last year, was questioned by prosecutors on Wednesday over alleged actions against constitutional order, according to local media reports. Georgescu, a leading candidate for the April elections, was stopped in traffic by police and taken to the Prosecutor General’s Office, broadcaster Antena 3 reported.
He faces accusations of election campaign funding abuses, involvement in a fascist organization, and publicly promoting war criminals and extremist ideologies. Authorities reportedly merged two criminal cases into a broader investigation of extremist activities nationwide.
A key piece of evidence is a speech Georgescu delivered in Bucharest’s University Square, where he allegedly emulated Marshal Ion Antonescu, Romania’s WWII-era leader and convicted war criminal, and performed a banned legionary salute.
Georgescu’s campaign condemned the move, claiming his arrest was politically motivated. His office stated on Facebook: “Calin Georgescu was about to submit his new candidacy for the presidency. Approximately 30 minutes ago, the system stopped him in traffic and took him in for questioning at the General Prosecutor’s Office! Where is democracy?”
The investigation follows Romania’s highest court annulling last year’s presidential vote over alleged Russian interference, a move criticized by U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference earlier this month.
