Călin Georgescu has appealed to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg (ECtHR) the decision of the Constitutional Court regarding the annulment of the presidential elections in Romania. The information was confirmed by his lawyer, Maria Vasii. “It is a natural and absolutely necessary step to defend the fundamental rights of Mr. Călin Georgescu, an independent candidate, as well as of all Romanian citizens who deserve a fair and transparent electoral process,” she told HotNews.
On December 16, Călin Georgescu, represented by lawyer Maria Vasii, requested the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg (ECtHR) to suspend the effects of the CCR’s decision of December 6, 2024, to annul the presidential elections in Romania. In his request, Călin Georgescu also asks the ECHR to oblige the Romanian state to resume the electoral process, respecting the results of the first round: the presidential final between him and Elena Lasconi.
“We will continue to use all the legal and constitutional instruments at our disposal, both in the country and internationally, to protect the rights of Mr. Călin Georgescu and the votes of Romanians,” added Georgescu’s lawyer.
Călin Georgescu, through lawyer Maria Vasii, requested the ECHR:
1. Suspension of the effects of Decision no. 32/2024 of the CCR, until the case is resolved, in order to prevent irreparable harm to the democratic rights of the plaintiff and Romanian citizens.
2. Obliging the Romanian Government to resume the electoral process, respecting the results of the first round, and to organize the second round of the presidential elections between Mr. Călin Georgescu and Ms. Elena Lasconi.
3. Obliging the Romanian state to adopt measures to remedy the moral and democratic damage, by restoring confidence in the electoral process.
Călin Georgescu also requested the Court to “judge the case in a speedy procedure, given the gravity and urgency of the violations reported,” the document states.
- Irreparable harm: The suspension of the electoral process and the invalidation of the votes irreparably affect the rights of the applicant and of Romanian citizens, guaranteed by Art. 3, Protocol no. 1 of the Convention.
- Political and social crisis: The electoral vacuum created by the CCR decision undermines political stability and public trust in the rule of law, provoking social protests and risks of internal instability.
- Urgency of the situation: The second round of the presidential elections was supposed to take place on December 8, 2024. The indefinite postponement of the electoral process affects the democratic rights of citizens and generates the risk of perpetuating undemocratic practices. Impossibility of exercising domestic remedies: The decisions of the CCR are final and generally binding, and Romanian legislation does not provide for a domestic mechanism to challenge them, violating Article 13 of the Convention (right to an effective remedy).
Dozens of Călin Georgescu supporters protest
Around 100 people gathered on the steps of the Bucharest Court of Appeal on Thursday to protest the annulment of the presidential election and support former independent candidate Călin Georgescu. The people came with vuvuzelas and flags and chanted slogans against the current government. Some of them hummed the Romanian anthem. “Thieves in prison, not in government” and “Get out of the house if you care,” the protesters shouted.
From sources at the steps of the Bucharest Court of Appeal on Thursday , THOUSANDS were in attendance not the hundred that is being reported. And 10s of thousands or more attended protests coming from all over Romania on Sunday in attempts for the voices to be heard