A supporter of independent politician Calin Georgescu attends a protest in front of metropolitan police arrest headquarters in Bucharest, 12 October 2026. Photo: EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT.
The Bucharest Tribunal on Tuesday replaced far-right former presidential candidate Calin Georgescu’s 30-day pre-trial detention with house arrest in a case in which he is accused of defrauding a businessman of more than one million euros.
The ruling is not final and is not immediately enforceable. Anti-corruption prosecutors are expected to challenge the decision within three days, according to media reports.
Dozens of Georgescu’s supporters gathered outside the Tribunal early on Tuesday to show their support for the former presidential candidate. Authorities erected security barriers and deployed gendarmerie units in the area.
His supporters greeted the court’s decision with cheers and shouts of approval. Fellow right-wing leader George Simion of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, described the house arrest ruling, in a post on X, as “still an abuse of power, but a victory for the protests – a small victory for the Romanian people”.
Prosecutors allege that from September 2021, a group allegedly led by Georgescu convinced the businessman that he could obtain a loan of 6 million euros in exchange for providing a guarantee. The victim then allegedly transferred some 1 million euros.
Subsequently, the suspects allegedly told him that the loan could be increased to 15 million euro, but an additional guarantee was required, after which the businessman allegedly transferred another 100,000 euros. The promised loan never materialised.
Georgescu has not issued any statement on this issue but has previously claimed he was being investigated by the authorities because of his political activities.
This would be the third criminal case against Georgescu. He is already under investigation for endorsing fascist ideas in interviews, online posts and public appearances and also faces trial for complicity to undermine the constitutional order, spreading false information and founding an anti-Semitic organisation.
He denies all the charges.
After he unexpectedly won the first round of the presidential elections in November 2024, the Constitutional Court ordered a rerun of the vote, citing alleged manipulation of public opinion by a “foreign state”, likely referring to Russia.
Georgescu was banned from participating in the re-run in May 2025, which was ultimately won by centrist Nicusor Dan.