Romanian populist who ran for president before election was annulled steps away from politics
Romanian populist Calin Georgescu announced his retirement from politics after being barred from running in the country's presidential election rerun this month.
The decision comes after Georgescu ran for president late last year and emerged victorious in the first round of voting. However, a top Romanian court then annulled the result after allegations emerged of electoral violations and Russian interference. Georgescu was later banned from participating in this month's contest, which was won by pro-European Union candidate Nicusor Dan.
"I choose to be a passive observer of public and social life," the 63-year-old Georgescu said in a video posted online late Monday. "I choose to remain outside any political party structure … I am not affiliated with any political group in any way."
Georgescu – who ran as an independent in November – 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."
Romania's Now-barred Presidential Frontrunner Claims He Is Facing Trump-like Charges
"Even though this political chapter has ended, I am convinced that the values and ideals we fought for together remain steadfast," he added. "My dear ones, I have always said that we would make history, not politics."
Read On The Fox News App
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 antisemitic organizations, among other charges. On Tuesday, he was due to appear at the prosecutor's office in Bucharest.
Despite what appeared to be a sprawling social media campaign promoting him, Georgescu had declared zero campaign spending in last year's contest. A Romanian court then made the unprecedented move to annul the election.
"This December, Romania straight up canceled the results of a presidential election based on the flimsy suspicions of an intelligence agency and enormous pressure from its continental neighbors," Vice President JD Vance said in a speech at the Munich Security Conference in February.
Georgescu Taken Into Custody After Jd Vance's Rebuke Of European Elections
"Now, as I understand it, the argument was that Russian disinformation had infected the Romanian elections, but I'd ask my European friends to have some perspective. You can believe it's wrong for Russia to buy social media advertisements to influence your elections. We certainly do. You can condemn it on the world stage even. But if your democracy can be destroyed with a few hundred thousand dollars of digital advertising from a foreign country, then it wasn't very strong to begin with," Vance added.
Georgescu sparked controversy for describing Romanian fascist and nationalist leaders from the 1930s and 1940s as national heroes, according to the Associated Press. He has also praised Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past as "a man who loves his country" and has questioned Ukraine's statehood, but he claims not to be pro-Russian.
Georgescu has argued the election was "canceled illegally and unconstitutionally," and after he was barred from the May rerun, he accused the authorities of "inventing evidence to justify the theft" of the elections.
Earlier this year, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Bucharest in a show of support for Georgescu.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Romanian populist who ran for president before election was annulled steps away from politics
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
26 minutes ago
- CBS News
GOP-friendly group pouring in millions to try to boost support for Trump tax agenda
A leading GOP friendly group supporting President Trump's "one, big, beautiful bill" is readying a $4 million advertising buy aimed at helping steer the effort through the Senate after a number of Republicans voiced concerns about the legislation as it stands. The plans from Americans for Prosperity, first reported on by CBS News, come as the GOP-controlled Senate is expected to focus on the sprawling bill key to Mr. Trump's agenda after it narrowly passed the Republican led-House last month. The messaging from AFP includes "video and digital ads that will air on cable, connected TV, and other digital platforms," according to the organization. Television advertisements from the group will initially air in North Carolina, Louisiana, Maine, Idaho and the District of Columbia but could expand further. "The sooner the Senate advances the bill, the sooner Americans start seeing relief where they need it most," said Brent Gardner, the organization's chief government affairs officer in a statement. The statement also noted the group is well aware that as the process being used to fast track the bill progressed "the hill to climb was only going to get steeper." Crucial to the GOP bill is its continuation of key parts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was a legislative trademark of Mr. Trump's first term in office. But the expansive bill that passed the House also includes Medicaid work requirements, a raise of the debt ceiling and a bevy of other major measures that could prove politically difficult to pass even with the relatively strong GOP majority in the Senate. "Look, I want to vote for it. I'm for the tax cuts. I voted for the tax cuts before. I want the tax cuts to be permanent, but at the same time, I don't want to raise the debt ceiling $5 trillion," Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." The new advertising move from AFP include testimonials that show not only the impact of the 2017 tax cuts but also what could happen if Congress does not act soon to extend those earlier changes along with "ads encouraging fiscal hawks in the Senate to find spending offsets by further eliminating wasteful Biden-era spending programs," according to details set to be released by AFP. Democrats in Congress have so far strongly resisted the Trump agenda legislation. While most legislation in the Senate typically requires bipartisan support because of the chamber's filibuster threshold, Republican leaders are using a procedural route that would allow them to pass the bill on the strength of their partisan majority alone. Already a messaging standoff has emerged around the bill that could play a major role in the 2026 midterms. "Senate Republicans are doing everything in their power to rip away health care and spike costs for hardworking families, all to give billionaires a massive tax handout," Maeve Coyle, a spokesperson for the Senate Democrats campaign arm said in a recent statement. "Under the leadership of Senate Republicans, millions of people are at risk of losing their health insurance – and voters will hold them accountable for it at the ballot box in 2026." The Republican Party doesn't need every one of its Senators to vote for the bill in order for it to pass due to the party's successful 2024 election that saw the right take back the majority in the chamber and finish with a total of 53 seats. But losing the support of just four GOP senators could doom the push. "The Senate will have their differences, but focusing on where Republicans are unified is what will drive this bill forward – permanent tax cuts, energy abundance, secure borders, and the elimination of waste, fraud, and abuse," Gardner, with Americans for Prosperity, said in a statement.
CBS News
26 minutes ago
- CBS News
WorldPride is in Washington, D.C. this year. The Trump administration is prompting fears, mixed emotions.
What we know about canceled LGBTQ events at the Kennedy Center This year, WorldPride is coming to Washington, D.C. A series of events, organized by the nonprofit InterPride, aims to bring visibility and awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer issues to an international stage. This year's location is leaving the community conflicted about showing up to the nation's capital amid an administration that has targeted them. Zoe Stoller, a licensed social worker based in Philadelphia, said they're excited to be amongst the queer and trans community at WorldPride, but told CBS News the Trump administration has "definitely been on my mind." "D.C. is not necessarily a place that many people would think of as super safe and comfortable right now, given the current administration and their attacks on the LGBTQ community, especially trans people, especially trans youth," they said. Meg Ten Eyck, founder and CEO of travel platform EveryQueer and vice chairman of the board of directors for the International LGBTQ Travel Association, has been to dozens of Pride events across the world, from the miles-long parade at New York City's WorldPride to a Pride in Kyiv, Ukraine in 2015 that was targeted with Molotov cocktails amid protests. "What is happening socially and politically changes the feeling of the Pride that you are attending," she said, adding she anticipates WorldPride this year is going to bring "an astronomical amount of fear and sadness from people" as well as some potential violence. "I think the community is terrified, and I think our instinct as humans is to want structure and to want answers," she said. "There will be a lot of people who are drawn to this particular pride as a giant 'F*** you' to the administration, and there will be a lot of people who are incentivized into negative behaviors that may not necessarily be characteristic of who they are because of that fear and misinformation and general dissatisfaction with human rights violations that are happening in a lot of different ways." New York City's annual Pride March commemorates the 1969 uprising by members of the LGBTQ community at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images Comments across social media have also highlighted the mixed emotions. In a video about WorldPride posted to TikTok earlier this month, a top comment with more than 2,000 likes says: "Being real... I'm not going this year. I'm scared." Another reads: "Couldn't pay me enough to attend a mass gathering like this in this political climate." But others had a different take, including this commenter who wrote: "Don't let them make us scared we deserve happiness too." While some may choose to skip this year's events due to safety concerns, Stoller predicts their absence will be filled with others eager to take a stand. "Folks who may not have attended in the past, might not have felt motivated to show up, to protest, to be in this current political climate and make their voices heard — those folks might come out of the woodworks," they said. For those with layered identities, navigating Pride this year is even more complex. David D. Marshall, founder and CEO of Journey to Josiah Inc., a Baltimore-based adoption nonprofit, said the feeling of a "robust need to fight" is met with the reality that, for people of color, showing up is a "a whole different experience" to White LGBTQ people. "There is a fear in general when it comes to black people, because there is a direct target put on our backs when it comes to any sort of protest," he said, adding "it's a time for people of different privilege, or allies, to show up." And for others, more pressing matters are taking precedence over the problems posed by Pride. "When we're thinking about the grand scheme of things, (Pride) just hasn't been on the list," Marshall admitted, adding his own organization is grappling with federal funding cuts and those in his circles are "fighting to maintain our own livelihoods" amid the dismantling of DEI – diversity, equity and inclusion – roles. "The option to fold is not there, because the work still needs to be done. The need has not gone anywhere but there are now some additional barriers," he said. Why is WorldPride in D.C.? While the Trump administration has rolled back several protections for LGBTQ people, especially for trans individuals, WorldPride locations are bid on years in advance, meaning the nation's capital was decided before President Trump was re-elected. "No one could have anticipated what was going to happen," Ten Eyck said, adding there are fears around what the administration may do if there are protests on federal land, since it would be their jurisdiction. "(For some people), federal charges result in you losing your career and your income and your stability." But there's an important distinction between who's in office and who makes up the city, she added. "Yeah, (Mr.) Trump has the White House and sort of lives in D.C., but the District of Columbia goes deeply democratic in every single election, regardless of who's in the federal administration. So, having and hosting a large global pride celebration is aligned with the citizens of D.C.'s politic and will, but it is not aligned with the federal government stance." Members and allies of the LGBTQ community cheer on a Pride car parade as it leaves from Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC. Drew Angerer / Getty Images Stoller, who has more than 50,000 Instagram followers, has seen this contrast causing discussions among their online community as well, with many questioning whether it's safe or appropriate to attend. "D.C. still can be a very safe, open, accepting place. But of course, the people who are in charge, who now are living in D.C. definitely affect the vibes and feelings of that," they said. The Trump administration has already made itself known ahead of the celebration. Last month, several Pride events at the Kennedy Center were canceled or relocated as the institution pivots under President Trump's leadership. June Crenshaw, deputy director of nonprofit organization Capital Pride Alliance that is helping host to WorldPride, said the organization is finding other paths for the celebration, but added, "the fact we have to maneuver in this way is disappointing." According to the WorldPride website, "top-to-bottom safety protocol" is in place, assuring the same level of preparation as high-security events like inaugurations. "Efforts include pre-event web-related surveillance, on-site security/police, advanced life support stations, roving medic teams, aerial surveillance and anti-scaling systems and barricades where applicable," the site notes. "The 2-day street festival will be fenced with a secure entrance. Capital Pride is augmenting DC's efforts with additional private security." How to celebrate Pride outside of Washington, D.C. If unsure about attending WorldPride this year, Stroller encourages people to prioritize their emotional and physical safety above all else. "If you are feeling worried for your safety, for your emotions, for your well-being, listen to your gut," they said. People march during the Pride Parade in Boston, Massachusetts. JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images Black LGBTQ people are also having to figure out another approach "that may not necessarily be showing up in these very public spaces," Marshall added. "Does that mean that one group has decided not to fight? No, it's a matter of how. What is going to be the thing that is not going to cost us our lives?" he said. Ten Eyck adds there are plenty of ways to "show up" for the community without being in Washington physically, including supporting your local Pride party or LGBT center as well as "putting your money where your morals are." "If you're a federal employee who can fight from the inside, if you're a teacher who can fight from the inside, if you're a public health professional who can fight from the inside, we need you more in those roles than we need you on the National Mall," she said.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Oil Prices Rise After Ukrainian Strikes on Russia
Instead of falling, Brent crude prices are up about 3% to start the week, at a shade under $65 a barrel. Prices are getting a boost from Ukraine's drone strikes on military airports inside Russia, analysts say, and a push by U.S. lawmakers to further cut off Russian oil from global markets. Meanwhile, Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal said over the weekend they aim to have tighter limitations in place on Russian oil by the G-7 summit in mid-June.
