Protests Erupt in Romania After Anti-NATO Candidate Barred from Elections

RT, March 10, 2025 ─ 

Mass protests and clashes with police erupted in Bucharest on Sunday, March 9, after Romanian electoral authorities banned Calin Georgescu, a leading anti-NATO candidate, from running in the upcoming presidential elections set for May 2024.

Georgescu, who won the first round of the presidential vote in November 2023 before the results were annulled, condemned the decision as a “direct blow to the heart of world democracy.” In a fiery statement, he warned, “If democracy in Romania falls, the entire democratic world will fall! This is just the beginning.” He further declared, “Europe is now a dictatorship; Romania is under tyranny!”

Election controversy and allegations

The controversy began after Georgescu’s surprise victory in the November 2023 elections, which opponents claimed was marred by pro-Russian bias and alleged Moscow-backed interference. By December, the results were overturned, and Romanian authorities launched investigations into Georgescu, culminating in his arrest in late February. He was later released on parole with movement restrictions.

The Romanian National Tax Administration Agency dismissed claims of Russian meddling, stating there was no evidence to support the allegations.

Anti-NATO stance sparks backlash

Georgescu, a vocal NATO critic, has accused the alliance of exploiting Romania as a “gateway” to escalate tensions with Russia into a Third World War. His campaign rhetoric and opposition to Western military alliances fueled accusations of Kremlin-aligned sympathies from rivals.

Public outcry

Sunday’s protests saw demonstrators decry the ban as politically motivated. “This isn’t just about Calin—it’s about freedom itself,” said one protester, echoing widespread frustration over perceived government overreach.

Authorities have yet to comment on the unrest, but the decision has drawn international scrutiny, with critics labeling it a test of Romania’s democratic integrity.