Pro-Russia Călin Georgescu barred from Romanian presidential election re-run
Far-right supporters of the candidate claim decision is undemocratic and Elon Musk describes his ban as ‘crazy’
Reuters in Bucharest
Sun 9 Mar 2025 19.04 GMT
Romania’s central election authority has barred far-right pro-Russia candidate Călin Georgescu from running in May’s presidential election re-run.
Dozens of supporters of the populist Georgescu gathered outside the election bureau shouting “Freedom” and briefly tried to force their way through the security cordon.
Georgescu submitted his candidacy for the May ballot re-run on Friday amid doubts that he would be allowed to run.
Romania’s highest court annulled the ballot two days before the second round of voting in December, citing allegations of Russian interference in Georgescu’s favour, which Moscow has denied.
The Guardian, here, fails to mention that Georgescu won the first round of elections, was well-placed to win the presidency when the courts pulled the plug and cancelled the results. Now, Georgescu is leading the polls to win the first round again, so the powers-that-be pulled a third-world trick and removed him from the ballot. This is the death of Democracy in Romania and the flagship for autocracy in Europe. Evil is winning in the EU.
Members of US President Donald Trump’s administration called Romania’s cancelled election an example of European governments suppressing freedom of speech and political opponents.
Tech billionaire and Trump adviser Elon Musk called the election authority’s decision “crazy” on his social media platform X.
Georgescu is under criminal investigation on six counts, including membership of a fascist organisation and communicating false information about campaign financing. He has denied all wrongdoing.
Both Merz -- who will be the next chancellor after his party won the elections but did not secure a majority -- and Lars Klingbeil of the SPD said they had successfully finished exploratory talks held in the wake of February 23 elections, and would now move to formal talks to build a coalition government.
In Germany, where coalitions are the norm, governments are typically formed in two phases, with parties first holding exploratory talks and then entering into formal coalition talks.
The two parties were racing for a deal before next week when they hope to push a loosening of Germany’s borrowing limits through parliament to revive growth in Europe’s largest economy and boost military spending.
Merz wants to form a coalition by Easter and has warned it was “five minutes to midnight” for Europe to fend for itself against a hostile Russia, with the US under President Donald Trump no longer seen as a reliable ally.
This absurd panic is exactly what NATO (read USA), and the Western War Industries want. They get filthy rich on Europe's nonsensical fears and get filthier every day. Those who see the madness of it all are eliminated from power in the government despite being the 2nd most popular party in Germany. The War Industry is winning, Europe is losing big time.
Merz’s conservative CDU/CSU bloc and the SPD have haggled over issues such as migration and welfare payments, coming together after a bruising election campaign.
The two parties have also discussed the issue of equipping Ukraine with longer range Taurus missiles, which outgoing SPD Chancellor Olaf Scholz opposed but Merz supports under certain conditions.Merz said both sides shared “the conviction that we have a great task ahead of us”.
He said all were “aware of the great challenge we are facing—above all the international situation, but also... facing the whole of Europe”.
Merz said both sides had agreed on tough new steps to limit irregular immigration, including refusing all undocumented migrants at the borders, even those seeking asylum.
The move was a key demand of Merz, who has stressed the need to win voters back from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which scored a record of over 20 percent in the election.
So, he's not doing it to save Germany from Islamic madness, but to win voters. Nothing remotely altruistic here.
Klingbeil called the deal “an important first step” and said both sides agreed on the need to “get our country back on track”.
He said his party had won assurances on key demands, such as a €15-per-hour minimum wage and stable pensions.
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Thousands protest in Paris against Macron’s defense policies
Thousands of protesters marched through Paris on Saturday to oppose what they see as French President Emmanuel Macron’s militaristic approach to foreign policy and his lack of interest in achieving peace in the Ukraine conflict.
The demonstration was organized by Florian Philippot and his party, The Patriots. Chanting slogans and carrying signs such as “We don’t want to die for Ukraine,” and “Macron, we don’t want your war,” the crowd moved from the Place du Palais Royal to the Place Pierre Laroque.
Macron on Wednesday proposed expanding France’s nuclear deterrent to protect EU nations and urged European members of NATO to take more responsibility for their own defense. He cited uncertainty over Washington’s commitment to Ukraine, especially as relations between Kiev and US President Donald Trump’s administration experienced a setback after Vladimir Zelensky rejected calls to negotiate peace with Russia.
Macron has argued that continued aid to Ukraine was crucial, warning that if Russian President Vladimir Putin succeeded in Ukraine, he wouldn’t stop there – a claim that Moscow has repeatedly dismissed as nonsense. Russia has identified NATO’s expansion toward its borders and the US-led bloc’s promise of eventual membership for Ukraine as being among the key reasons for the conflict.
Many demonstrators at the Paris rally criticized Macron for prioritizing military matters over domestic issues. “When you declare war, it’s to erase all the other failures,” one protester said. Another accused Macron of pursuing conflict while leaders such as Trump and Putin are talking about peace.
Addressing the crowd, Philippot condemned Macron’s approach, declaring that the president “absolutely does not want peace.” Philippot, formerly a member of the National Front, has been a vocal critic of Macron’s administration and EU’s policies. His party opposes what it perceives as unnecessary military interventions and advocates for a more independent French foreign policy.
Macron’s push for increased defense spending faces hurdles as France grapples with a budget deficit and pressure to rein in spending. Approval of the 2025 budget has been delayed due to a divided parliament. In January, Budget Minister Amelie de Montchalin announced plans to cut €32 billion ($34.6 billion) in public spending while raising taxes by €21 billion.
Critics argue that these measures would burden middle-class families, small business owners, and retirees already struggling with rising costs. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou has rejected calls for public consultation on major defense policies, insisting such decisions are the government’s responsibility. When asked on Friday whether the French people should have a say in increased military spending and a shift toward a “war economy,” Bayrou was firm: “The government’s responsibility is to say, no, we can’t let the country be disarmed. It’s vital.”
Who is talking about 'disarming'? Quelle folie!
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