In a bold move, nationalist lawmakers in Romania have launched a parliamentary strike following the disqualification of Călin Georgescu from the upcoming presidential election. The protest, led by the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), is a direct response to the growing political unrest and accusations of corruption that have shaken the nation.
AUR President George Simion took to social media to announce that his party’s MPs would stop attending parliamentary meetings. He condemned the Central Electoral Bureau’s (BEC) decision to block Georgescu’s candidacy, calling it an abuse of state power. Simion voiced his unwavering support for Georgescu, emphasizing that his party would not back down.
The disqualification of Georgescu, who was leading the presidential race, came after the BEC voted 10-4 against his candidacy. This decision immediately sparked widespread protests, with demonstrators gathering outside the BEC’s headquarters in Bucharest. National flags waved in the air as protesters chanted for revolution, and clashes with police escalated into the use of tear gas.
Georgescu, who was hopeful for a chance to run, appealed the decision to the Romanian Constitutional Court (CCR). However, the court upheld the ruling, cementing Georgescu’s exclusion from the race. His disqualification, which has been denounced as politically motivated, leaves him out of the May elections entirely.
Simion, also the vice president of the European Conservatives and Reformists group in the European Parliament, condemned the disqualification as a clear attack on democracy. He accused the “Deep State” of attempting to eliminate genuine opposition, rig elections, and cling to power. “We will fight until our country is free from corruption, censorship, and political persecution,” he declared.
Georgescu himself expressed his disillusionment with Romania’s political system, lamenting the death of democracy. In a post on X, he bitterly remarked, “Today, the masters have decided: no equality, no liberty, no fraternity for Romanians.” He also voiced frustration with Europe’s current trajectory, comparing Romania to a colony of Brussels.
In light of the court ruling, the nationalist faction is now working on finding a replacement candidate for the May elections. They have until March 19 to submit the necessary paperwork. The election’s first round is set for May 4, with a run-off slated for May 18.
