Former Romanian presidential candidate Călin Georgescu questioned for fraud and forming a criminal group

Călin Georgescu, former presidential candidate of Romania, has been taken in by authorities as part of an investigation into forming an organized criminal group and fraud with particularly serious consequences.

The prosecution suspects that the financial damage to a businessman is greater than 1.1 million euros.

Police detained Georgescu on Monday and initially took him to his residence in Mogoșoaia, where searches were carried out. After their completion, he was taken to the headquarters of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) for questioning.

Authorities have executed a total of five search warrants in Bucharest, as well as in the areas of Mogoșoaia, Ciolpani, and Buftea. According to DIICOT, the investigation concerns suspicions of forming an organized criminal group and committing, on an ongoing basis, fraud with particularly serious consequences.

Romanian prosecutors say that, since September 2021, three people, namely two Romanian citizens and one Italian citizen, have acted in coordination in Romania and Great Britain, with the aim of unjustly benefiting financially.

At the center of the case is a businessman, who was allegedly offered the provision of a financing of 6 million euros from a foreign financial institution, on the condition that he put up a guarantee.

Initially, he transferred more than 1 million euros, according to DIICOT’s claims. After he was informed that the financing amount could reach 15 million euros, the businessman sent another 100,000 euros as additional guarantee.

The promised financing was not provided, and authorities estimate that the loss caused to the businessman is over 1.1 million euros.

Investigators are also checking the destination of the transferred sums. Romanian media, citing DIICOT data, report that about 1 million euros were linked to an alleged investment in precious metals, while 100,000 euros were allegedly intended to support Georgescu’s electoral campaign.

This case joins other legal proceedings related to the former presidential candidate.

Earlier, Georgescu has been accused of attempting to undermine constitutional order and of promoting fascist ideologies. He has denied these accusations.

In November 2024, he emerged victorious in the first round of the Romanian presidential elections. However, the Constitutional Court annulled the process after claims of interference and campaign manipulation, ordering the elections to be held from scratch.

Georgescu was not allowed to run in the repeat elections of May 2025, which were won by Nicușor Dan.

The news of his detention brought dozens of supporters in front of the DIICOT headquarters in Bucharest. To ensure security, authorities set up protective barriers and deployed gendarmerie forces.

George Simion, the head of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) and a political ally of Georgescu, condemned the authorities’ action through a reaction on social media.

So far, Georgescu has not made a detailed public statement on the new charges. The investigations continue, while the prosecution’s claims do not constitute a final court decision.