Romania Faces Political Turmoil Following Coup Attempt
Prosecutors in Romania have announced the indictment of 21 individuals linked to an attempted coup, allegedly orchestrated by far-right figure Calin Georgescu and paramilitary leader Horaţiu Potra. The conspiracy emerged after the Constitutional Court annulled the first round of the presidential election on December 6, which Georgescu had won amid accusations of Russian interference, reports 24brussels.
Georgescu and Potra reportedly met on December 7 to plan the controversial operation, aiming to capitalize on the political unrest that followed the court’s ruling. The fallout from the court’s decision ignited widespread protests, with thousands of Romanians taking to the streets in response to the political upheaval.
While Georgescu, a prominent NATO skeptic known for his far-right views, was disqualified from running in the rescheduled May presidential election, prosecutors allege that he sought to exploit the “maximum social tension” to incite further unrest and jeopardize Romania’s constitutional order.
All individuals implicated in the coup, part of Potra’s paramilitary group, are now facing trial. Potra himself is currently unaccounted for, with Romanian officials suspecting he may have fled to Russia, as disclosed by Romania’s Prosecutor General Alex Florenta at a press conference on Tuesday.
Florenta emphasized that Romania has become a prime target for extensive hybrid warfare strategies employed by Moscow, including cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns, aimed at destabilizing the upcoming 2024 election. This situation highlights the broader geopolitical tensions influencing Romania’s internal politics and its relationship with Russia.
