Călin Georgescu no longer has a chance to register in the electoral race. At least this is the opinion of a professor with a doctorate in history who analyzed the situation through the lens of the information provided up to this point by CSAT, but also the CCR’s decision to cancel the presidential elections.
Călin Georgescu PHOTO AP
The Constitutional Court made a shocking decision and annulled the first round of the presidential elections. Practically, the electoral process will be resumed in its entirety. The CCR’s decision came after the declassification of CSAT data, which states that the presidential elections, in the first round, would have been influenced by external intervention. The Constitutional Court, moreover, received four referrals after the declassification of CSAT documents in which it is stated that a candidate, namely Călin Georgescu, would have declared 0 expenses, although his campaign on TikTok was paid for. History professor Iulian Nechifor says that, in this context, the CCR’s decision was forced by the gravity of the event and believes that Georgescu no longer has a chance to enter the electoral race.
“It is obvious that the Russian propaganda was well organized and directed”
Professor Dr. Iulian Nechifor carefully followed the events and, based on his thorough knowledge of history, testifies that, most likely, the Russian propaganda would have acted as in the textbook, following a tradition established since three centuries ago. “The CCR’s decision was forced by the gravity of the event. After the conduct of the presidential elections, the first round, and the parliamentary ones, it is obvious that the Russian propaganda was well organized and directed. She referred to some classical elements that the Russians have used in the Romanian space for about 300 years“, says Iulian Nechifor. One of the classic Russian propaganda methods used by the Russians would have been to appeal to the religious feelings of the Romanians, to promote messages that induce the idea of a decadent, immoral West, in contrast to the orthodox, rural, pure world.
“The first method was to manipulate religious sentiment and promote a messianic message by emphasizing the opposition between the decadent, heretical, immoral West and the “purity” of Orthodoxy manifested by the Russian world. This message was taken up and propagated by numerous Orthodox clerics, the most representative example being Theodosius of Constanța. Certain people within the Orthodox Church promoted dubious people with racist, legionary, anti-Semitic, homophobic, anti-democratic, anti-Western messages. Among them we mention George Simion, Diana Şoșoacă and obviously Călin Georgescu. So far the Church has not taken any responsibility, which is extremely serious. By promoting this message, some Romanian clerics served Russian interests in Romania“, states the history doctor.
“A major error of Romania’s security system”
At the same time, Iulian Nechifor says that the Russian propaganda was able to penetrate thanks to some major errors of Romania’s security system, which would have more closely supervised the operation and activity of conspiratorial and anti-democratic associations or groups. Which would have allowed the Russians to use their second effective method of propaganda. “The second method consisted in the use of media to promote Russian propaganda, posts owned by fugitives or patrons in conflict with state institutions. The financing of these messages was sophisticated through the use of front companies, dubious associations, people with the ability to influence opinions. The constant presentation of anti-vaccine, conspiracy theories on these stations, the provoking of homophobic, anti-democratic fears over a long period of time distorted reality, turning the disappointment of a large part of Romanians into anger. Pseudo-science, numerology, the constant denigration of some politicians or public figures, institutions were aimed at sowing the feeling of distrust in Romanian and European institutions. To a large extent these goals have been achieved. The fact that these institutions were not sanctioned or closed like in the Republic of Moldova was a major error of Romania’s security system“, adds the teacher from Botošan. From the point of view of Iulian Nechifor and CSAT, he declassified this information late.
“Călin Georgescu has no chance to register again in the electoral race”
At the same time, the professor from Botošan states that the authorities owe the Romanians an explanation of how Călin Georgescu’s campaign was financed on Tik-Tok, and from what sources. “The Chinese platform has often been accused of being used to divide and destroy the Western way of life. This fact was valid in the case of Romania, the state actor involved, most likely Russia, being interested in destabilizing Romania, one of the main supporters of Ukraine. Against this background, Călin Georgescu was promoted with a documented effort by the special services over the course of a little over 4 years. If in 1944 the Romanian communists, tools of the Russians, came on Russian tanks and pulverized the fragile interwar democracy, in 2024 influential people landed via TikTok. Călin Georgescu’s statement that his campaign cost 0 lei is a story. The Romanian authorities have the duty to explain how this massive disinformation campaign on TikToc was financed, who were the collaborators inside the country and why they did it“, says Iulian Nechifor.
Finally, the professor from Botoșan, based on the declassified information, but also the security problems that have arisen, says that at the moment Călin Georgescu would no longer have a chance to register in the electoral race. “In the light of this information to which we have access, it is obvious that Mr. Călin Georgescu has no chance to register again in the electoral race. The fact that he flagrantly violated the electoral law is a sufficient argument. His public opinions, among which we stand out the nationalization of foreign companies, the intention to abolish political parties, the suggestion that he would like to remove Romania from its European route and destiny are other arguments. The problem is whether other “sovereignists” or extremists will also be banned, such as the POT, SOS or AUR parties. In conclusion, Russia has succeeded up to this point in destabilizing Romania and the security of Eastern Europe through these instruments“, concludes Iulian Nechifor.
