(Adnkronos) – The pro-Russian right-wing candidate, Calin Georgescu, will challenge the decision of the Central Electoral Office (Bec) to reject his candidacy for the presidential elections in May at the Constitutional Court of Romania. “We will go forward together until the end. Peace, freedom and democracy”, declared the pro-Russian candidate in a video published on social media, in which he appears alongside the leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (Aur), George Simion, and the president of the Party of the Young (Pot), Anamaria Gavrila. The video was also shared by Simion on his Facebook page with the message: “Follow the instructions and we will escape the dictatorship! We know what we have to do, follow the organizational indications, calmly and peacefully!”.
In the video message, Georgescu thanked the Romanian people for their support: “We are united, me with Anamaria and with George Simion. We will go all the way for the same values: peace, democracy, freedom. I thank the Romanian people for everything they are doing, but I ask you once again: everything must take place in silence, in peace and in full awareness of reality. We must not give rise to violence or other episodes similar to those of last night. Let’s move forward with great confidence for the future of this country. Anamaria and George Simion will take care of the entire organization from a political point of view”.
Simion also invited supporters to remain united: “In the next two or three days we will have to be very active. Follow the directions of the members of Pot and Aur, only through unity will we get out of this situation. We are with the candidate most voted by the Romanians. Until the end”. A similar appeal also came from Anamaria Gavrila: “We are together and we are more united than ever. Don’t lose hope, we are the strongest. We are here, we are united and we are working together to succeed. God help us!”.
Yesterday evening, the Central Electoral Office invalidated Georgescu’s candidacy, with ten votes in favor and four against. The decision sparked strong protests in front of the Bec headquarters, where protesters reacted violently, knocking over police barriers, throwing objects and bottles, and clashing with law enforcement. Tensions escalated further a few hours later, when the Bec published the reasons for the measure. Georgescu’s supporters threw firecrackers and stones torn from the pavement, setting fire to several objects. Law enforcement officers intervened with tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Broadcaster Digi24 reported that three Aur deputies were allegedly present among the protesters who set fire to objects and damaged property in the historic center of the capital, near the Bec headquarters. Aur spokesman Dan Tanasa admitted to Digi24 microphones the presence of party parliamentarians at the demonstration, but denied any involvement in the organization or coordination of the demonstrators.
