Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is turning up the heat on the European Commission, urging it to break its silence over Romania’s decision to block Calin Georgescu’s presidential candidacy. Fico argues that ignoring the issue will only deepen distrust in the EU.
In a strongly worded statement on social media, Fico insisted Brussels must take a stand—either in defense of Georgescu, a nationalist critical of NATO, or in support of Romanian authorities barring him from running. But staying silent? That, he says, is not an option.
“The European Commission must take responsibility,” Fico declared. “If Georgescu is being sidelined simply because his views don’t align with the establishment, then he deserves European protection. But if Romanian authorities acted correctly, the EU must back them. The only unacceptable move is to say nothing at all.”
This firestorm erupted when Romania’s Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) disqualified Georgescu from the presidential race, citing a missing signature on his wealth declaration’s annex. Of the 14-member committee, 10 voted against his candidacy. The decision ignited protests in Bucharest, where furious demonstrators clashed with police, waving flags and calling for a “revolution.” Riot officers responded with tear gas, arresting several people.
Former Constitutional Court judge Tudorel Toader explained that the missing annex wasn’t just a technicality—it’s a mandatory document. Both the substance and the procedure, he argued, must be followed to the letter.
Georgescu, however, isn’t buying it. He called the ruling a blatant political maneuver, comparing it to an attack on democracy itself. “This is a direct hit to democracy worldwide!” he declared on social media. “If democracy in Romania crumbles, the entire democratic world will follow! Europe has become a dictatorship, and Romania is under tyranny!”
Fico, no stranger to political battles, drew parallels between Georgescu’s situation and his own past struggles. He accused Brussels—specifically former EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders—of looking the other way when Slovakia faced democratic backsliding under a pro-EU government. He claimed that between 2020 and 2023, political forces tried to imprison him as an opposition leader, yet the EU stayed silent because Slovakia’s government was “obedient” to Brussels.
“The European Commission didn’t care about Slovakia back then,” Fico fumed. “As long as they had a government that followed orders, they ignored democracy and the rights of the opposition.”
The backlash against Georgescu’s disqualification isn’t just coming from Fico. Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, Spain’s Vox party leader Santiago Abascal, and even billionaire Elon Musk have all criticized Romania’s move. Meanwhile, George Simion, leader of Romania’s right-wing AUR party, insists the decision was politically motivated. “All the paperwork was in order,” he stated. “We live in a dictatorship. We need help. Stand with us to restore democracy in Romania.”
Fico’s warning is clear: the EU’s credibility is at stake. If Brussels doesn’t address the controversy, it sets a dangerous precedent—one where successful candidates can be erased from democratic elections simply because their opinions don’t fit the approved narrative.
