Former far-right populist quits Romanian politics

27-05-2025

Calin Georgescu, the controversial populist whose bid for Romania's presidency resulted in the annulment of an election in the European Union and NATO member country, has announced he is stepping away from political life.
Georgescu upended Romania's political landscape in November when he ran as an independent and unexpectedly surged to frontrunner in the first round of the presidential election, going from an obscure candidate to beating the incumbent prime minister.
"I choose to be a passive observer of public and social life," the 63-year-old said in a video posted online on Monday.
"I choose to remain outside any political party structure ... I am not affiliated with any political group in any way."
Despite denying any wrongdoing, Georgescu was barred from the tense election re-run held in May, won by pro-EU candidate Nicusor Dan, who was sworn in on Monday.
Dan, a former Bucharest mayor, beat hard-right nationalist George Simion, who became Georgescu's nominal successor.
Georgescu said he made his decision to take a step back following the conclusion of the presidential race, which for him indicated "the sovereignist movement has come to a close".
"Even though this political chapter has ended, I am convinced that the values and ideals we fought for together remain steadfast," he said.
The outcome of Georgescu's success in 2024's chaotic election cycle sent shock waves through Romania's political establishment.
Despite what appeared to be a sprawling social media campaign promoting him, Georgescu had declared zero campaign spending.
A top Romanian court then made the unprecedented move to annul the election after allegations emerged of electoral violations and Russian interference.
He sparked controversy in the past for describing Romanian fascist and nationalist leaders from the 1930s and 1940s as national heroes.
He has also previously praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as "a man who loves his country" and questioned Ukraine's statehood, but he claims not to be pro-Russian.
In February, prosecutors opened criminal proceedings against Georgescu, accusing him of incitement to undermine the constitutional order, election campaign funding abuses, and founding or supporting fascist, racist, xenophobic, or anti-Semitic organisations, among other charges.
Prosecutors in Bucharest on Tuesday said they were extending the criminal investigation against him after remarks he made on television earlier in May, which could be interpreted as supporting ideas linked to fascist legionnaire figures from the 1930s and 1940s.
Calin Georgescu, the controversial populist whose bid for Romania's presidency resulted in the annulment of an election in the European Union and NATO member country, has announced he is stepping away from political life.
Georgescu upended Romania's political landscape in November when he ran as an independent and unexpectedly surged to frontrunner in the first round of the presidential election, going from an obscure candidate to beating the incumbent prime minister.
"I choose to be a passive observer of public and social life," the 63-year-old said in a video posted online on Monday.
"I choose to remain outside any political party structure ... I am not affiliated with any political group in any way."
Despite denying any wrongdoing, Georgescu was barred from the tense election re-run held in May, won by pro-EU candidate Nicusor Dan, who was sworn in on Monday.
Dan, a former Bucharest mayor, beat hard-right nationalist George Simion, who became Georgescu's nominal successor.
Georgescu said he made his decision to take a step back following the conclusion of the presidential race, which for him indicated "the sovereignist movement has come to a close".
"Even though this political chapter has ended, I am convinced that the values and ideals we fought for together remain steadfast," he said.
The outcome of Georgescu's success in 2024's chaotic election cycle sent shock waves through Romania's political establishment.
Despite what appeared to be a sprawling social media campaign promoting him, Georgescu had declared zero campaign spending.
A top Romanian court then made the unprecedented move to annul the election after allegations emerged of electoral violations and Russian interference.
He sparked controversy in the past for describing Romanian fascist and nationalist leaders from the 1930s and 1940s as national heroes.
He has also previously praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as "a man who loves his country" and questioned Ukraine's statehood, but he claims not to be pro-Russian.
In February, prosecutors opened criminal proceedings against Georgescu, accusing him of incitement to undermine the constitutional order, election campaign funding abuses, and founding or supporting fascist, racist, xenophobic, or anti-Semitic organisations, among other charges.
Prosecutors in Bucharest on Tuesday said they were extending the criminal investigation against him after remarks he made on television earlier in May, which could be interpreted as supporting ideas linked to fascist legionnaire figures from the 1930s and 1940s.
Calin Georgescu, the controversial populist whose bid for Romania's presidency resulted in the annulment of an election in the European Union and NATO member country, has announced he is stepping away from political life.
Georgescu upended Romania's political landscape in November when he ran as an independent and unexpectedly surged to frontrunner in the first round of the presidential election, going from an obscure candidate to beating the incumbent prime minister.
"I choose to be a passive observer of public and social life," the 63-year-old said in a video posted online on Monday.
"I choose to remain outside any political party structure ... I am not affiliated with any political group in any way."
Despite denying any wrongdoing, Georgescu was barred from the tense election re-run held in May, won by pro-EU candidate Nicusor Dan, who was sworn in on Monday.
Dan, a former Bucharest mayor, beat hard-right nationalist George Simion, who became Georgescu's nominal successor.
Georgescu said he made his decision to take a step back following the conclusion of the presidential race, which for him indicated "the sovereignist movement has come to a close".
"Even though this political chapter has ended, I am convinced that the values and ideals we fought for together remain steadfast," he said.
The outcome of Georgescu's success in 2024's chaotic election cycle sent shock waves through Romania's political establishment.
Despite what appeared to be a sprawling social media campaign promoting him, Georgescu had declared zero campaign spending.
A top Romanian court then made the unprecedented move to annul the election after allegations emerged of electoral violations and Russian interference.
He sparked controversy in the past for describing Romanian fascist and nationalist leaders from the 1930s and 1940s as national heroes.
He has also previously praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as "a man who loves his country" and questioned Ukraine's statehood, but he claims not to be pro-Russian.
In February, prosecutors opened criminal proceedings against Georgescu, accusing him of incitement to undermine the constitutional order, election campaign funding abuses, and founding or supporting fascist, racist, xenophobic, or anti-Semitic organisations, among other charges.
Prosecutors in Bucharest on Tuesday said they were extending the criminal investigation against him after remarks he made on television earlier in May, which could be interpreted as supporting ideas linked to fascist legionnaire figures from the 1930s and 1940s.
Calin Georgescu, the controversial populist whose bid for Romania's presidency resulted in the annulment of an election in the European Union and NATO member country, has announced he is stepping away from political life.
Georgescu upended Romania's political landscape in November when he ran as an independent and unexpectedly surged to frontrunner in the first round of the presidential election, going from an obscure candidate to beating the incumbent prime minister.
"I choose to be a passive observer of public and social life," the 63-year-old said in a video posted online on Monday.
"I choose to remain outside any political party structure ... I am not affiliated with any political group in any way."
Despite denying any wrongdoing, Georgescu was barred from the tense election re-run held in May, won by pro-EU candidate Nicusor Dan, who was sworn in on Monday.
Dan, a former Bucharest mayor, beat hard-right nationalist George Simion, who became Georgescu's nominal successor.
Georgescu said he made his decision to take a step back following the conclusion of the presidential race, which for him indicated "the sovereignist movement has come to a close".
"Even though this political chapter has ended, I am convinced that the values and ideals we fought for together remain steadfast," he said.
The outcome of Georgescu's success in 2024's chaotic election cycle sent shock waves through Romania's political establishment.
Despite what appeared to be a sprawling social media campaign promoting him, Georgescu had declared zero campaign spending.
A top Romanian court then made the unprecedented move to annul the election after allegations emerged of electoral violations and Russian interference.
He sparked controversy in the past for describing Romanian fascist and nationalist leaders from the 1930s and 1940s as national heroes.
He has also previously praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as "a man who loves his country" and questioned Ukraine's statehood, but he claims not to be pro-Russian.
In February, prosecutors opened criminal proceedings against Georgescu, accusing him of incitement to undermine the constitutional order, election campaign funding abuses, and founding or supporting fascist, racist, xenophobic, or anti-Semitic organisations, among other charges.
Prosecutors in Bucharest on Tuesday said they were extending the criminal investigation against him after remarks he made on television earlier in May, which could be interpreted as supporting ideas linked to fascist legionnaire figures from the 1930s and 1940s.

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Three dead in Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia

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Three dead in Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia

Ukrainian drone attacks have killed three people, Russian officials say, as Kyiv targeted oil refineries and a key military airfield for drones inside of Russia. Russia's Defence Ministry said air defences intercepted or destroyed 112 drones across eight Russian regions and the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. A drone attack on the Rostov region, on the border with Ukraine, killed one person, acting governor Yuri Slyusar said. Further from the front line, a woman was killed and two other people wounded in a drone strike in the Penza region, according to regional governor Oleg Melnichenko. In the Samara region, falling drone debris sparked a fire that killed an elderly resident, regional Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said. In these and other regions, governors reported damage to industrial facilities. Russian officials did not name specific facilities hit, but Ukrainian authorities later said they had targeted key sites in Russia's energy and defence sectors late on Friday in retaliation for deadly Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities earlier this week. Ukraine's General Staff said it struck the Ryazan and Novokuibyshevsk oil refineries, a fuel storage facility in Voronezh, and a defence-linked electronics manufacturer in Penza. Ukraine's SBU intelligence agency said its drones had hit Russia's Primorsko-Akhtarsk military airfield, which has been used to launch waves of long-range drones at targets in Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia launched 53 drones and decoys at Ukraine overnight into Saturday. It said that air defences shot down or jammed 45 drones. Eleven people were wounded in a drone strike on the Kharkiv region, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said Saturday. The reciprocal drone strikes followed a day of mourning in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Friday, after a Russian drone and missile attack killed 31 people, including five children, and wounded over 150. The continued attacks come after US President Donald Trump on Tuesday gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a shorter deadline — August 8 — for peace efforts to make progress. Trump said on Thursday that special envoy Steve Witkoff is heading to Russia to push Moscow to agree to a ceasefire in its war with Ukraine and has threatened new economic sanctions if progress is not made. Also in Ukraine, protesters gathered in the west-central city of Vinnytsia late on Friday to demand the release of men detained by military enlistment offices. They broke into a stadium where the detainees were being held. According to the regional military recruitment centre, a group of conscripts had been brought there for medical examinations and other procedures related to mobilisation. "In the evening, a group of civilians gathered near the centre and behaved aggressively. Attempts to illegally enter the temporary assembly point, damage property and disturb public order were recorded," a statement from the centre said. The incident came amid rising public frustration over Ukraine's mobilisation drive, as the war with Russia grinds on in its fourth year. Russian forces now control almost 20 per cent of Ukraine in its east and south after three-and-a-half years of grinding war. with Reuters Ukrainian drone attacks have killed three people, Russian officials say, as Kyiv targeted oil refineries and a key military airfield for drones inside of Russia. Russia's Defence Ministry said air defences intercepted or destroyed 112 drones across eight Russian regions and the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. A drone attack on the Rostov region, on the border with Ukraine, killed one person, acting governor Yuri Slyusar said. Further from the front line, a woman was killed and two other people wounded in a drone strike in the Penza region, according to regional governor Oleg Melnichenko. In the Samara region, falling drone debris sparked a fire that killed an elderly resident, regional Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said. In these and other regions, governors reported damage to industrial facilities. Russian officials did not name specific facilities hit, but Ukrainian authorities later said they had targeted key sites in Russia's energy and defence sectors late on Friday in retaliation for deadly Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities earlier this week. Ukraine's General Staff said it struck the Ryazan and Novokuibyshevsk oil refineries, a fuel storage facility in Voronezh, and a defence-linked electronics manufacturer in Penza. Ukraine's SBU intelligence agency said its drones had hit Russia's Primorsko-Akhtarsk military airfield, which has been used to launch waves of long-range drones at targets in Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia launched 53 drones and decoys at Ukraine overnight into Saturday. It said that air defences shot down or jammed 45 drones. Eleven people were wounded in a drone strike on the Kharkiv region, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said Saturday. The reciprocal drone strikes followed a day of mourning in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Friday, after a Russian drone and missile attack killed 31 people, including five children, and wounded over 150. The continued attacks come after US President Donald Trump on Tuesday gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a shorter deadline — August 8 — for peace efforts to make progress. Trump said on Thursday that special envoy Steve Witkoff is heading to Russia to push Moscow to agree to a ceasefire in its war with Ukraine and has threatened new economic sanctions if progress is not made. Also in Ukraine, protesters gathered in the west-central city of Vinnytsia late on Friday to demand the release of men detained by military enlistment offices. They broke into a stadium where the detainees were being held. According to the regional military recruitment centre, a group of conscripts had been brought there for medical examinations and other procedures related to mobilisation. "In the evening, a group of civilians gathered near the centre and behaved aggressively. Attempts to illegally enter the temporary assembly point, damage property and disturb public order were recorded," a statement from the centre said. The incident came amid rising public frustration over Ukraine's mobilisation drive, as the war with Russia grinds on in its fourth year. Russian forces now control almost 20 per cent of Ukraine in its east and south after three-and-a-half years of grinding war. with Reuters Ukrainian drone attacks have killed three people, Russian officials say, as Kyiv targeted oil refineries and a key military airfield for drones inside of Russia. Russia's Defence Ministry said air defences intercepted or destroyed 112 drones across eight Russian regions and the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. A drone attack on the Rostov region, on the border with Ukraine, killed one person, acting governor Yuri Slyusar said. Further from the front line, a woman was killed and two other people wounded in a drone strike in the Penza region, according to regional governor Oleg Melnichenko. In the Samara region, falling drone debris sparked a fire that killed an elderly resident, regional Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said. In these and other regions, governors reported damage to industrial facilities. Russian officials did not name specific facilities hit, but Ukrainian authorities later said they had targeted key sites in Russia's energy and defence sectors late on Friday in retaliation for deadly Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities earlier this week. Ukraine's General Staff said it struck the Ryazan and Novokuibyshevsk oil refineries, a fuel storage facility in Voronezh, and a defence-linked electronics manufacturer in Penza. Ukraine's SBU intelligence agency said its drones had hit Russia's Primorsko-Akhtarsk military airfield, which has been used to launch waves of long-range drones at targets in Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia launched 53 drones and decoys at Ukraine overnight into Saturday. It said that air defences shot down or jammed 45 drones. Eleven people were wounded in a drone strike on the Kharkiv region, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said Saturday. The reciprocal drone strikes followed a day of mourning in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Friday, after a Russian drone and missile attack killed 31 people, including five children, and wounded over 150. The continued attacks come after US President Donald Trump on Tuesday gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a shorter deadline — August 8 — for peace efforts to make progress. Trump said on Thursday that special envoy Steve Witkoff is heading to Russia to push Moscow to agree to a ceasefire in its war with Ukraine and has threatened new economic sanctions if progress is not made. Also in Ukraine, protesters gathered in the west-central city of Vinnytsia late on Friday to demand the release of men detained by military enlistment offices. They broke into a stadium where the detainees were being held. According to the regional military recruitment centre, a group of conscripts had been brought there for medical examinations and other procedures related to mobilisation. "In the evening, a group of civilians gathered near the centre and behaved aggressively. Attempts to illegally enter the temporary assembly point, damage property and disturb public order were recorded," a statement from the centre said. The incident came amid rising public frustration over Ukraine's mobilisation drive, as the war with Russia grinds on in its fourth year. Russian forces now control almost 20 per cent of Ukraine in its east and south after three-and-a-half years of grinding war. with Reuters Ukrainian drone attacks have killed three people, Russian officials say, as Kyiv targeted oil refineries and a key military airfield for drones inside of Russia. Russia's Defence Ministry said air defences intercepted or destroyed 112 drones across eight Russian regions and the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. A drone attack on the Rostov region, on the border with Ukraine, killed one person, acting governor Yuri Slyusar said. Further from the front line, a woman was killed and two other people wounded in a drone strike in the Penza region, according to regional governor Oleg Melnichenko. In the Samara region, falling drone debris sparked a fire that killed an elderly resident, regional Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said. In these and other regions, governors reported damage to industrial facilities. Russian officials did not name specific facilities hit, but Ukrainian authorities later said they had targeted key sites in Russia's energy and defence sectors late on Friday in retaliation for deadly Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities earlier this week. Ukraine's General Staff said it struck the Ryazan and Novokuibyshevsk oil refineries, a fuel storage facility in Voronezh, and a defence-linked electronics manufacturer in Penza. Ukraine's SBU intelligence agency said its drones had hit Russia's Primorsko-Akhtarsk military airfield, which has been used to launch waves of long-range drones at targets in Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia launched 53 drones and decoys at Ukraine overnight into Saturday. It said that air defences shot down or jammed 45 drones. Eleven people were wounded in a drone strike on the Kharkiv region, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said Saturday. The reciprocal drone strikes followed a day of mourning in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Friday, after a Russian drone and missile attack killed 31 people, including five children, and wounded over 150. The continued attacks come after US President Donald Trump on Tuesday gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a shorter deadline — August 8 — for peace efforts to make progress. Trump said on Thursday that special envoy Steve Witkoff is heading to Russia to push Moscow to agree to a ceasefire in its war with Ukraine and has threatened new economic sanctions if progress is not made. Also in Ukraine, protesters gathered in the west-central city of Vinnytsia late on Friday to demand the release of men detained by military enlistment offices. They broke into a stadium where the detainees were being held. According to the regional military recruitment centre, a group of conscripts had been brought there for medical examinations and other procedures related to mobilisation. "In the evening, a group of civilians gathered near the centre and behaved aggressively. Attempts to illegally enter the temporary assembly point, damage property and disturb public order were recorded," a statement from the centre said. The incident came amid rising public frustration over Ukraine's mobilisation drive, as the war with Russia grinds on in its fourth year. Russian forces now control almost 20 per cent of Ukraine in its east and south after three-and-a-half years of grinding war. with Reuters