By Sergiu Mișcoiu, Babeș-Bolyai University, interviwed on 11/03/2025.

Călin Georgescu has been a controversial figure in Romanian politics from the beginning. His messages and actions in the public space have provoked heated reactions in society in such a way that he went, between November 2024 and March 2025, from the status of favorite in the presidential elections to that of rejected candidate. This transition was due to a combination of political, legal and institutional factors, which culminated in his exclusion, at least temporarily, from the race for Cotroceni. 

From candidacy to exclusion

In the canceled presidential elections, Călin Georgescu surprised the political scene after he managed to attract a significant number of supporters who sent him to the second round, alongside Elena Lasconi, the leader of the USR. His speech, based on sovereignty, anti-system rhetoric and vehement criticism of the political establishment, resonated strongly with a part of the electorate dissatisfied with the direction and decisions of the authorities. Although the elections were canceled and his candidacy was invalidated, Călin Georgescu’s supporters continued to proclaim him « the elected president ». The fact that he might not reach Cotroceni seems, in their eyes, just further evidence of the conspiracy against him. According to university professor Sergiu Mișcoiu, Georgescu’s success in a certain social segment was due to both natural factors – the attraction that his speech exerted on a part of the electorate – and artificial factors, including external interventions.

The invalidation of Călin Georgescu’s candidacy in the presidential elections was an anticipated moment, given the controversial circumstances that marked his rise and, later, his political decline. According to political scientist Sergiu Mișcoiu, state institutions acted coherently, given that Diana Șoșoacă’s candidacy had previously been rejected on similar grounds. 

« The fact that Mr. Georgescu came first in November 2024 was certainly due to some factors, as we know, natural, in the sense that a part of Romanians was seduced by his speech, but also to some artificial factors, external interventions, and this transition from the candidate who comes first to the candidate who fails to enter the presidential race was somehow anticipated from the moment when the cancellation of the presidential election was decided on December 6. It was clear that the entire institutional system, if it wanted to be coherent with itself, could not admit Mr. Georgescu’s candidacy given that it had previously rejected Ms. Șoșoacă’s candidacy and annulled the elections due to anti-constitutional activities committed by Mr. Georgescu and which are now the subject of criminal investigations, » analyzed Sergiu Mișcoiu for Ziare.com.

In this political landscape marked by polarization and increasingly heightened tensions, the invalidation of Călin Georgescu’s candidacy in the presidential elections by the BEC generated strong reactions among his supporters. Prof. univ. dr. Sergiu Mișcoiu analyzed this phenomenon from a deeper perspective of Romanian society: the extreme fragmentation of public opinion and the lack of a consolidated civic culture. « Of course, in public opinion and especially among its supporters, the spirit has not been lost on the contrary, it has intensified, and here is a big problem of Romanian civic culture, of the way in which we have educated our citizens, we enable them to participate in collective decisions, to be part of the same society. » « Basically, we have pieces of society in the divided Romania that are confronting each other, it is a problem of longer and much deeper reflection, but, apart from this phenomenon that we cannot immediately treat with strictly institutional means, it was clear that there could be no question of Mr. Georgescu being able to run, just as Mrs. Șoșoacă could not run and probably neither could other citizens who would embrace a discourse like that of Mr. Georgescu and Mrs. Șoșoacă for the reasons invoked in a manner, I believe, ultimately, with all the awkwardness of expression and communication,it was a legitimate decision of the Constitutional Court, » Sergiu Mișcoiu told Ziare.com. 

Just a few days before the deadline for filing candidacies for the 2025 presidential elections (March 15), the Romanian political scene is in a whirlwind of tense events. The rejection of Călin Georgescu’s candidacy has forced the sovereignist pole to urgently recalibrate its strategy, and all indications show that George Simion is ready to enter the race. Names such as Dan Dungaciu, who denied the story surrounding his candidacy, or Cristela Georgescu, excluded by important voices in AUR, have also been circulated. There are feverish calculations in the sovereignist party, which is trying to anticipate the impact of the new electoral dynamics if Călin Georgescu’s invalidation remains definitive at the CCR. Analysts say that the rejection of Georgescu’s candidacy was anticipated, and the strategy of the sovereignist pole seems to have already been outlined months ago. Professor Sergiu Mișcoiu, from the Faculty of European Studies of Babeș-Bolyai University, explained to Ziare.com that a « plan B » was already prepared, and this could involve the candidacy of AUR leader George Simion.Plan B: George Simion, the reserve candidate. The rejection of Călin Georgescu’s candidacy at the BEC was not an insurmountable blow for the sovereignist camp, but only an obstacle that could be overcome through a well-developed strategy. Professor Sergiu Mișcoiu believes that this change in strategy is not accidental, but part of a plan thought out since the winter. The analyst points out that, although George Simion and Călin Georgescu had different visions in the past, they have come closer again due to a common interest.

« I think there has already been a plan B since January, if not since December. This plan B is for Mr. Simion to run instead of Mr. Georgescu, I think he already has the signatures collected and is only waiting for the Constitutional Court to decide today to reject Mr. Georgescu’s challenge so that Mr. Simion can assume this task. It will be a surprise if it is not Mr. Simion and if it is someone else from this pole, of course there are other options, but the one with somewhat higher electoral chances is Mr. Simion. Going by the following consideration: in the past they did not have the same vision, but the two visions have come closer, the most radical of Mr. Georgescu and the somewhat more moderate one in the past of Mr. Simion. They have merged into a sovereignist pole that considers that Mr. Georgescu has been done a great injustice », Sergiu Mișcoiu told Ziare.com. 

Călin Georgescu’s role in the electoral strategy 

Even if he does not run for president, Călin Georgescu would not disappear from the political foreground. According to analyst Sergiu Mișcoiu, he will most likely be proposed for the position of prime minister. In the long term, he could be « pushed » to play a significant role in nationalist politics in Romania. « Călin Georgescu will be proposed for the position of prime minister, he will probably be pushed forward later, but at the current stage, all nationalist energies will have to gather around a candidate from the AUR ranks and, most likely, as I was saying, Mr. Simion, who would end up winning the first round, which they would like, which is not at all excluded, and who would pose big problems in the second round for his opponents, » Sergiu Mișcoiu also opined for Ziare.com.

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Sergiu Mișcoiu is a professor and researcher at Babeș-Bolyai University in Romania, specialist of nation-building processes, political transitions and transformations in CEE and francophone Africa. He is also Director of the Centre for International Cooperation and of the Centre for African Studies.

This interview was conducted by Ziare.com, and the content was translated and provided by the interwee himself.

Link to the original interview in Romanian : Cum a ajuns Călin Georgescu de la „președintele ales” la candidatul respins