I’ve been asking Romanian journalists in Brussels what they think of the decision to shut down the candidacy of presidential frontrunner Călin Georgescu. While few here like the guy, the consensus is that his disqualification is politically motivated.

“I don’t want him as president,” said one hack. “He’s not a politician; he is something like a poet. The Romanian people would be stupid to elect him. But what is happening is undemocratic”.

The evidence linking Georgescu to a Russian conspiracy is flimsy at best, according to what I’ve heard and read. (Here’s a more in-depth analysis.)

Romanians are protesting on the streets, and the big question is: will this become an international crisis?

There is no doubt in my mind that ‘the EU’ — meaning a nebulous club of leaders that supports the status quo — wants Georgescu out of sight and mind. One former club member has already admitted to direct intervention in Romania’s internal affairs.

Others could now pile in: Elon Musk has made noises on X, though in the newsroom we’re waiting for more robust signals from the US administration. EU politicians have also waded in (see our coverage) but as of writing I haven’t seen support for Georgescu from heads of state in Europe.

Elsewhere, the furious trans-Atlantic realignment accelerates and we’re seeing the first signs of a European boycott of US products. For how this could affect Europe’s nuclear deterrent, read this and this.

And finally, some gossip. Right-wing groups in the European Parliament don’t trust the assembly’s interpreters, two sources have told me. When delicate subjects are under discussion, no interpreters are requested because the MEPs fear their conversations will be leaked to the opposition.

“Some interpreters are alright and just do their job,” said one MEP. “Others are politically motivated and can’t be trusted.” On one occasion, parliament officials were found hiding under desks in the interpreters’ boxes before a key meeting, presumably with the intention of ear-wigging.

“We started wondering where leaks were coming from and we determined it must be the interpreters,” said the leader of one group.

Justin Stares

Carl Deconinck