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Romanian ultra-conservative ex- presidential candidate Calin Georgescu has been accused of plotting a government overthrow following the initial stage of the head of state ballot was canceled last December.

An ex-militia chief, a former French legionnaire and paramilitary leader in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and multiple suspects were additionally indicted.

The case rests on a intended attack on the Romanian capital on 8 December, which police foiled.

State attorneys detail a plot directed against the nation's legal framework, including the candidate, the former legionnaire, their group, and alleged foreign intelligence links.

The ex-legionnaire and additional individuals have been charged with inciting the insurrection, while the politician is charged with plotting with the group's leader.

Legal authorities state that the former candidate encountered Potra and additional individuals of the organization at a stable property in December, not long after his electoral success was invalidated.

Georgescu initially denied that the gathering occurred, but later admitted it after photographs were published in Romanian media. Yet he denies conspiring to stage an uprising.

In late February, authorities searched several locations in the nation, discovering a stockpile of weapons, precious metal and currency, with which it is alleged the collective were planning to carry out a forceful seizure of control.

Prosecutors state that the accused is at this time abroad and may seek protection in Russia.

The former candidate, in his sixties, came a surprise first in the first round of the nation's presidential election last autumn.

That result was annulled by the Constitutional Court shortly before the final vote was due to take place following accusations of overseas influence.

State security agencies indicated that his presence and support on digital networks had been amplified by a mass influence operation – run from outside the country – to disrupt the conclusion of the election.

At a press conference, chief attorney the state attorney referred to the invalidated 2024 election as "the product of a multifaceted conflict masterminded by the Eastern European nation."

It was stated that digital assaults on aviation centers and state agencies were paired with an online disinformation campaign carried out through manipulation networks, automated accounts, and artificial intelligence-produced material.

Based on investigators, more than multiple thousand online accounts were used to amplify favorable narratives, while video platform groups of in excess of 20K automated accounts elevated his campaign in the days before the election.

Following the accused was barred from entering the race his associate the party leader, the chief of the nationalist organization, competed in his place in the repeat vote.

The candidate achieved a remarkable first-round victory but was ultimately defeated into second place by Nicusor Dan, the progressive, pro-EU chief executive of Bucharest, in the second round.

Georgescu has not yet commented on the allegations, although recently he alleged the national government of ruling through "falsehood, scheming and polarization".

President Dan said that the findings by prosecutors was "proof" that the foreign nation had utilized "orchestrated misinformation" in Romania and had sought to manipulate the recent vote.

A schedule for the court case has still pending, but it could begin in the first part of the year.