Romanian prosecutors question far-right candidate Georgescu amid election fraud probe

Călin Georgescu, a far-right politician who led the first round of Romania's annulled presidential election, was taken in for questioning by prosecutors amid ongoing investigations into alleged electoral violations and Russian interference. Georgescu was stopped in traffic in Bucharest while en route to submit his candidacy for the upcoming re-run scheduled for May. Prosecutors launched extensive searches targeting associates of Georgescu, investigating allegations related to campaign financing and promoting extremist ideologies. Despite these legal challenges, Georgescu remains a popular candidate in public opinion polls, although his eligibility to run again is uncertain. He has accused the authorities of political repression reminiscent of Romania's communist past, claiming they are attempting to undermine his candidacy. The unprecedented annulment of the election last December has sparked widespread protests and criticism from international observers.