Fascism and Conspiracy

The right-wing Romanian presidential candidate Călin Georgescu is under judicial supervision. The measure was ordered on Wednesday by the Romanian Attorney General's Office. After several hours of questioning, Georgescu was released with the condition that he comply with summonses from the investigating authorities over the next 60 days. At the same time, he was prohibited from setting up new accounts on social networks, carrying weapons and leaving Romania.

Hundreds of his supporters, fearing that Georgescu would be arrested, gathered in front of the prosecutor's office on Wednesday, demanding a repeat of the second round of the presidential elections, which were annulled by the Constitutional Court on December 6, 2024 .

According to the statements published by the prosecutor's office, Georgescu is accused of several crimes, including incitement against the constitutional order, spreading false information and concealing the financial resources for his election campaign.

Never prosecuted

Georgescu, who has been politically active for many years and has not concealed his fascist views, was never prosecuted for incitement. The "Elie Wiesel" State Institute for the Study of the Holocaust in Romania had already reported Georgescu to the public prosecutor's office three years ago for fascist propaganda. The report had no consequences.

In the proceedings now announced by the same authority, precisely those allegations that were initially considered harmless are being taken up and transformed into serious charges: public glorification of war criminals and the dissemination of fascist, xenophobic, racist and legionary ideology .

Last December, an investigation was opened against Motocu. In the justification published by the public prosecutor's office for the criminal proceedings now also opened against Georgescu, it is stated that he had conspired with Motocu against the constitutional order.

military sports groups organized

Georgescu is also accused of having collaborated with other right-wing extremists. One of them is the former French Foreign Legionnaire Eugen Sechila, whose departure was prevented by the authorities at Bucharest airport on Wednesday. Sechila organized military sports groups for years and indoctrinated the participants with legionary indoctrination without hindrance.

The so-called Legion of Archangel Michael was the Romanian fascist movement that emerged after the First World War and was responsible for numerous terrorist attacks and anti-Semitic acts of violence. With reference to the ideological legacy of the Legion, numerous groups emerged after 1990 that were able to spread their propaganda unhindered.

The public glorification of legionary guerrilla groups as national-Christian fighters against Bolshevism contributed significantly to a false, revisionist perception of the past. This blurred view of history is now even reflected in the prosecution's statement, which states at one point that Georgescu had quoted from the writings of the partisan Ion Gavrilă Ogoranu, who was not a supporter of the Legion.

honoring with a funeral wreath

Ogoranu was not only a legionnaire, but also one of the initiators of a neo-fascist party after 1990. On the occasion of his death in 2006, the Romanian government even honored him with a funeral wreath. His coffin was covered with the Legion's flag, although all fascist symbols are prohibited by law.

In a post published on Facebook on Thursday, historian Mihai Demetriade criticizes the failures of the judiciary and the indifference of civil society in the face of right-wing extremism that has been rampant for years. "The normalization of fascism," notes Demetriade, "has taken place before our eyes."

No one knows whether Georgescu will be able to run again. His supporters have announced a large solidarity rally with Georgescu for Saturday. According to the AUR chief, MEPs from the ultra-right factions are also expected to attend.