Călin Georgescu's presidential candidacy for the upcoming elections this May 2025 is engulfed in controversy and faces serious legal challenges. Experts warn of the potential for his candidacy to be invalidated, drawing parallels with the recent case of Diana Șoșoacă, whose candidacy was nullified by the Constitutional Court (CCR) last year.
Georgescu officially submitted his candidacy documents to the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) on March 7, 2025, after multiple earlier announcements failed to materialize. His public launch attracted large crowds outside the BEC, where supporters gathered alongside journalists and security personnel, creating a vibrant scene. Despite this momentum, his candidacy is threatened by two immediate challenges filed against him at the BEC—one lodged by Remus Pricopie, the rector of the National School of Political Science and Public Administration (SNSPA), and another by a lawyer from Arad.
These challenges argue the BEC must assess candidacies based on both formal and substantive conditions outlined by Law 370/2004 governing presidential elections, as well as CCR decisions established under Article 146(f) of the Constitution, which mandate strict adherence to electoral regulations.
Georgescu’s candidacy is more than just surrounded by procedural concerns; he is currently under criminal investigation for six offenses, including instigations against the constitutional order. This investigation stems from his alleged affiliation with a neo-Legionnaire organization founded by Marian Motocu, which reportedly aimed to incite violence against political parties, foreigners, and Jews. Following this scrutiny, Georgescu tried to contest the judicial oversight imposed on him, but his appeal was definitively rejected by the court on March 3, 2025.
According to the former constitutional judge who spoke with "Adevărul", candidacy invalidation is only justified if a definitive conviction is issued. Nevertheless, experts like Bogdan Iancu suggest the circumstances surrounding Georgescu provide the CCR judges with additional grounds for caution. Iancu stated, "Surely this adds motivation, among many others, within the reasoning structure of the Șoșoacă ruling. With or without criminal charges, few conceivable scenarios exist where the CCR, having set this precedent, would perform a 180-degree turn without losing any credibility it possesses at this moment."
Iancu emphasized the necessity of considering the Venice Commission's report, which states the invalidation of candidacies should follow conviction. He remarked, "The court must provide minimum procedural guarantees and present justifications for its decisions, more satisfactory than those offered by the precedent ruling from October. Essentially, it is required to base its decisions on established norms, particularly emphasizing the need for conviction or at least the norm being the general practice across Europe."
Public discussions are rife with various scenarios if Georgescu's candidacy is invalidated. Some speculate George Simion, leader of the AUR party, might step in, though Simion has publicly promised he would not run. Claudiu Târziu, another AUR figure, recently expressed dissatisfaction with Georgescu and called upon him to clarify his remarks about the Moldovan people during interviews with pro-Russian candidates.
Political analyst Adrian Zăbavă posited, "They will martyr Călin Georgescu if his candidacy is invalidated. They will push this narrative to the utmost, needing Plan B, preparing for any eventuality to declare their candidate unfit to run, insisting on placing someone else on the ballot." He added, "I don’t believe they will go without candidacy options. On the contrary, as the deadline approaches, more candidates could emerge... This could also facilitate the victimization narrative and make questioning the legitimacy of these elections easier without him on the ticket."
The AUR party could find itself needing to rally behind another candidate if Georgescu falls out of the running. Deputy George Becali indicated his preference for Simion to run; if not, he stated he might throw his hat in as an independent. Diana Șosoacă has also reignited her presidential ambitions, having previously faced controversy for her candidacy last year, which ended with it being invalidated due to her statements and actions deemed disrespectful to the Constitution and national sovereignty.
On another front, Victor Ponta, who suspended himself from the PSD, might also pursue independent candidacy. Political dynamics are shifting, and his possible candidacy could attract significant votes from Georgescu's base. Zăbavă pointed out, "Names like Victor Ponta and George Becali could disproportionately influence the ballot if they proceed with their candidacies as independent candidates."
There are entrenched tensions and myriad scenarios surrounding the May presidential elections. Legislative authorities and political figures continue to navigate the legal and electoral frameworks as the political climate becomes increasingly volatile. The outcome of Georgescu’s candidacy and the responses of various political factions remain to be seen as the elections draw closer.