Thousands of Romanians took to the streets of the capital Bucharest protesting against the annulment of the presidential elections in December and voicing support for the right-wing presidential candidate Călin Georgescu.
The demonstration on March 1 was supported by the right-wing Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) party, led by George Simion.
AUR has consistently backed the independent Georgescu following the annulment of the election on December 6, after he had won the first round in November.
Simion announced on February 27 his party had collected more than 300,000 signatures in support of Georgescu.
On February 26, Georgescu was taken in by police for questioning.
He has been accused of forming a fascist organisation, threatening the Constitutional order and breaking electoral campaign finance rules, judicial sources told Romanian media.
Earlier that day, the police raided the homes of several people connected to Georgescu on suspicion of initiating or setting up a fascist, racist, xenophobic organisation and joining or supporting such a group.
They were also accused of the “public promotion of the cult of people guilty of committing crimes of genocide or war crimes”.
Two weeks previously, Radu Pally, Georgescu’s election campaign manager, had been the target of searches by prosecutors and police.
Simion, speaking in front of the National Theatre in Bucharest where AUR members and supporters gathered for the protest, said: “We have two objectives in our protest today. To return to democracy, to the democratic course, to support free elections, and to protest against the Government, it is an anti-government protest, to demand the resignation of [Prime Minister] Marcel Ciolacu.
“With such a Prime Minister, we do not trust that the elections will be free,” he added.
The AUR leader stated that he did not trust the new interim head of the AEP [permanent electoral authority], Zsombor Vajda. “We see who is the interim AEP, a person who is far from ensuring equidistance and transparency in the electoral process,” Simion said.
“Three days ago, the coup d’état that is underway had another episode. Mr Călin Georgescu was stopped in traffic by [Deputy Prime Minister Cătălin] Predoiu’s militiamen and the prosecutors of the embassies. And now they are trying to fabricate evidence that does not exist! They are trying to become political police.
“Marcel Ciolacu, you have to go home! Down with the Government! Marcel Ciolacu is the co-author of the December 6 coup d’état.
“This Socialist Prime Minister who lost the elections is the representative of the system that made fun of our country, that sold us piecemeal and sent Romanians abroad,” Simion added.
Georgescu said: “I want to be judged by all of you, through your free vote, it is your right to decide who you choose, not someone else.
“We have shown everyone what the courage of being Romanian means. Your children will be proud of you, because the future belongs to the righteous, not to those who kneel before foreign international powers.
“Romania will never be on its knees. We want a dignified, prosperous country, with dignified people, a country that is friendly to everyone, to have friends everywhere and to share the values that have united us: Peace, democracy and freedom,” he stated.
Estimates of the number of protesters varied. Reports from mainstream media and news outlets gave figures at between 10,000 and 25,000, while other sources claimed more than 200,000 people attended.
🇷🇴 Amazing atmosphere
An hour before the official start of the protest, buses keep arriving, and people are singing
Today, we stand beside Georgescu as he submits his candidacy—and this time, we won't let them arrest him! pic.twitter.com/PleHVVdUtT
— Daily Romania (@daily_romania) March 1, 2025
Romanian patriots take back what is theirs: Romania. pic.twitter.com/pJQDarNGnr
— RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) March 1, 2025
