Romanian prosecutors and police officers are conducting searches in the capital and nine counties of the country in the case of Calin Georgescu’s 2024 election campaign financing, Romanian media reported on Friday.
The police are targeting the candidate’s chief financier Bogdan Peșchir, as well as influencers who participated in Georgescu’s 2024 election campaign on social media, mainly TikTok, for a fee.
“Police officers from the Economic Crimes Investigation Directorate (IGPR) and the Prosecutor General’s Office are conducting 17 searches in citizens‘ homes in Bucharest and in the counties of Brasov, Botosani, Galati, Giurgiu, Dolj, Calarasi, Maramures, Mures and Timis as part of a criminal case of vote-buying,” the Romanian police press office said.
The investigative measures are aimed at establishing links between the people whose houses are being searched and others who may be involved in the rigging of the electoral process, Radio Romania specified, citing judicial sources. According to him, law enforcers seized numerous phones and other electronic devices during the searches.
Actual winner of the election is suspended
Georgescu came out on top in the first round of the presidential election, which was held in Romania on November 24. The National Electoral Bureau acknowledged the results of the first round, but almost on the eve of the second round, which was to be held on December 8, the Constitutional Court of Romania cancelled the results, citing “obvious violations of the electoral process.”
Earlier this year, the date of the next first round of the presidential election was approved on May 4. A second round is scheduled for May 18, if necessary. At the same time, those wishing to take part in the presidential election had to go through the whole procedure of approving candidates anew.
In late February, Georgescu was detained and summoned for questioning by the prosecutor’s office because of his possible links to extremist organisations and mercenaries.
Meanwhile, France is infuriated by the actions of the Romanian police. Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, leader of the party Debout la France (France Arise), wrote on X:
“Romania is turning into a dictatorship! Police in the homes of Calin Georgescu supporters on social media….. And to think that the European Union is encouraging this!”
