A far-right populist who led Romania’s canceled presidential election is being questioned by prosecutors. Calin Georgescu, 62, was stopped in traffic by police on Wednesday and taken for questioning at the General Prosecutor’s Office. His team claims he was about to submit his new candidacy when he was detained.
Prosecutors are investigating allegations of Russian interference and electoral violations, which emerged after Georgescu’s surprise first-round win last year. The Constitutional Court annulled the election two days ahead of the Dec. 8 runoff, citing concerns over Georgescu’s campaign spending and statements about historical figures.
Georgescu has denied any wrongdoing, calling the election “canceled illegally and unconstitutionally.” His questioning comes as police conducted searches in five counties linked to his associates, who face allegations of “false statements regarding the sources of financing” and other charges.
The first round of the rerun election is scheduled for May 4. If no candidate reaches 50%, a runoff will follow on May 18. It’s unclear if Georgescu will be able to participate in the vote.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/populist-romanian-politician-calin-georgescu-questioned-prosecutors-119202494