In a highly unusual move, Romania’s outgoing president on Wednesday released declassified documents detailing what they called a massive and “highly organized” campaign for Georgesca on TikTok, coordinated by a “statesman.”
The documents included an intelligence assessment that Russia was carrying out hybrid attacks against Romania, which it considers an “enemy state”.
Now the Constitutional Court is inundated with requests to consider the allegations of interference with the aim of possible annulment of the elections.
Today, the prosecutor’s office announced the opening of a criminal investigation, but there is no word yet on when it might be completed.
“They’re afraid,” is how Georgescu brushed off evidence that hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent promoting content for his campaign, in violation of both Romania’s electoral law and TikTok’s own rules.
He denied that he was a “man of Moscow”, mockingly calling the Romanian “secret services”.
“They cannot accept that the Romanian people have finally said, ‘We want our lives back, our country, our dignity back,'” he said, presenting himself as a fighter against an unyielding establishment.
In a sometimes scathing interview in which he praised Donald Trump and Hungarian populist leader Viktor Orbán, Georgescu called Vladimir Putin “a patriot and a leader.”
He then added: “But I’m not a fan.”
But when asked about Russia’s war against Ukraine, he first asked, “Are you sure about that?”, seemingly denying the very existence of the war.
At the time, he said that Romania was only interested in seeking peace on its border, but refused to say that it should be on Kiev’s terms.
When asked whether he agrees to stay on Ukraine’s side, as they say in the EU, “as long as it takes”, Georgescu answered “no”. He said that everything will change.
“I only agree that I have to take care of my people. I don’t want to involve my people,” he replied, clarifying that Romania — a member of the EU and NATO — would no longer provide military or political support to its neighbor.
“Zero. Everything stops. I only have to take care of my people. We have many problems ourselves.”
This would be a dramatic change in Bucharest’s position, and it would be music to Russian ears.
The president in Romania has considerable power, including influence in areas such as foreign policy. He is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and appoints the prime minister.
Romania shares a long border with Ukraine and has been staunchly supportive of Kyiv since a full-scale invasion in 2022.
He provided the Patriot missile defense system as well as financial support. It also became a key route for the export of Ukrainian grain, as Russian bombings affected the operation of the ports there.
Under Georgescu’s presidency, Romania will join Hungary and Slovakia as Russia’s supporters on NATO’s eastern flank.
It would also be a major blow to the EU’s solidarity with Ukraine, as it faces the prospect of taking on more responsibility for helping Kiev with Donald Trump in the White House.
Georgescu emphasized that he will keep Romania in the European Union and NATO, but from now on everything will be “negotiated” and focused on the interests of his country.
He refused to say that Vladimir Putin’s Russia poses a security threat to the West.
Romania is home to a giant NATO military base near the Black Sea, as well as a US missile defense facility.
Georgescu now calls himself a university lecturer, but previously worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations.
He clearly has a following – his Romanian-centric message of clean living is popular, especially outside of Bucharest.
But many in the capital are concerned about the direction their country may be headed.
Protesters will gather in central Bucharest tonight to call for Romania to remain in close union with Europe.
Asked if he understood why they were scared, Georgescu shook his head: “It’s just propaganda.”
