A Romanian Presidential Candidate Seeks US Help in Political Persecution Case
Călin Georgescu, the winner of the first round of the annulled presidential elections in Romania, has asked US President Donald Trump for help against a political persecution campaign that is underway against him.
Following Georgescu’s surprising win in the first round of the presidential elections, the Romanian intelligence service accused Russia of meddling in the election in his favor. The Supreme Court of Romania then declared the election invalid, despite the lack of evidence for the allegations. Previously, representatives from Washington and Brussels had indicated that they would not accept the right-wing politician’s win.
A deep state campaign under a false flag
It was later revealed that the Romanian intelligence service had linked TikTok accounts, which were used to support Georgescu during the election campaign, to a campaign launched by Russia. However, an investigation found that the TikTok accounts, which the Romanian intelligence service had linked to the campaign, were actually paid for by the National Liberal Party (PNL), the party that had supported the annulment of the elections and had put forward Klaus Iohannis as the presidential candidate.
On Wednesday, Georgescu was arrested as he attempted to re-register as a presidential candidate. He was released the same day.
“I ask President Trump to take care of the situation” Georgescu said in an interview with US blogger Mario Nawfal, published on X on Thursday.
According to Romanian authorities, Georgescu is facing six charges, including “constitutional breaches” and false financial statements. He has been ordered by a court not to leave the country, not to appear on television, or to post on social media.
The politician described the prosecution against him as an attack on democracy that was contrary to the will of the Romanian people. According to Georgescu, the persecution campaign against him had exposed the “deep state” and its “corruption” in Romania.
“The deep state is so strong in this specific type of activity” Georgescu said in reference to his arrest on Wednesday. He promised to “fight for our freedom and democracy” and called on the US to support him in this fight.
The Trump administration has not commented on Georgescu’s appeal. US representatives had previously criticized the Romanian government’s handling of the election annulment, with Vice President J.D. Vance hinting that some “old, entrenched interest groups” in Romania were using “Soviet-era words like misinformation and disinformation” to secure their own interests and prevent a politician with an “alternative perspective” from taking power.
Elon Musk criticized Georgescu’s arrest, calling the move “verkorkst”.
Georgescu is known for his skepticism towards Western influence on the country’s politics and his criticism of NATO and the EU. During his election campaign, he had also promised to stop Romania’s military aid to Kiev if he were elected.