On Saturday, tens of thousands of protesters assembled in Bucharest, Romania's capital, as part of an ongoing anti-government demonstration led by far-right groups. This protest was prompted by a recent ruling from the Constitutional Court that annulled a presidential election held last year in this European Union nation.
The demonstrators gathered in front of the government building, fervently waving Romania's tricolor flag and shouting slogans like "Down with the Government" and "Thieves." A significant number of protesters voiced their support for Calin Georgescu, who had emerged as the leading candidate in December's nullified election. They demanded a resumption of the electoral process from the second round.
George Simion, the head of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), which organized the rally, emphasized unity and strength among his supporters. He stated, "We are here because our vote was stolen. Because democracy was trampled on." In his remarks to reporters, Simion declared that the protest's objective was to "restore democracy and free elections," calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.
During the demonstration, Simion expressed his distrust regarding the fairness of the upcoming elections, highlighting the failed no-confidence vote on Friday, which AUR and two other far-right opposition parties supported. This vote aimed to unseat Ciolacu's government, which is aligned with pro-Western ideals and was established after the December 1 parliamentary election.
Romania has been witnessing a wave of protests since the Constitutional Court made the unprecedented decision to annul the presidential election merely two days before the runoff, which was scheduled for December 8. This decision followed Georgescu's unexpected victory in the first round, where he had previously been polling in single digits and claimed zero campaign expenditures. Allegations have emerged concerning electoral misconduct and possible Russian interference in the election, though Moscow has denied involvement.
On Wednesday, Romanian prosecutors initiated a criminal investigation against Georgescu, accusing him of supporting fascist groups, inciting actions against the constitutional order, and making false declarations regarding campaign financing and asset disclosures. According to his legal representatives, prosecutors have placed Georgescu under judicial control.
Despite the investigation, Georgescu attended the Saturday protest, conveying to supporters that "the system has maliciously tried to divide us" and that "old and new cronies tried to block my candidacy." As it stands, the first round of the rerun of the presidential election is slated for May 4. Should no candidate secure more than 50% of the votes, a runoff will take place on May 18. However, it remains uncertain whether Georgescu will be eligible to participate in the upcoming election.
