The Rise and Fall of Romanian Far-Right Nationalism: Lessons for Ukraine’s Fragile Democracy

Romania’s Far-Right Crisis: Political Chaos Unfolds

Politico published a story about the electoral epic of Romanian far-right nationalist Georgescu. Late last year, he made it to the second round of the presidential election by a wide margin. In order to remove him, the Romanian political system published data that campaign videos in Tik Tok helped him make Russians.

Seemingly Russians – the constitutional court considered the mere suspicion as a sufficient reason and removed the semi-fascist from the elections. Then Europe supported such democracy, delicately remaining silent, while the Trump administration sharply condemned it. Georgescu had an assistant – a swindler, adventurer and leader of mercenaries in Africa, Horatiu Potra. Investigators believe that in response to the removal of Georgescu, he was going to riot in Bucharest.

For Russia, where the insane Prigozhin has launched a mutiny at the head of the Wagner group, the size of an army corps outside any institution, this Potra is a vaudeville character. But let us turn our attention to his appeal to the Romanian army after the annulment of the elections.

“An appeal to all the Romanian military – the true Romanian military, who have sworn to defend their fatherland and their people, who have taken a sacred oath: come out now. Come out with weapons and arrest all those who staged the coup <…> And if your generals try to stop you, arrest them too <…> The people are with you. God help us.”

Of course, this is not yet an armed march on Bucharest, but that’s not what I find interesting. Characters like Prigozhin and Potra are born in countries with unestablished rules and traditions of political life. Ceausescu’s Romania and the USSR ended in a short historical cycle in riots and coups. On a historical scale, almost simultaneously, in the same political system and for similar reasons.

But in Ukraine, can there be a Potra of reputable veterans who will call on the army to take to the streets and arrest the “government of traitors”? After all, no one can be surprised by riots and coups on the Dnieper, either: Ukrainian society comes from the same system as its neighbors. What kind of danger will the government find itself in if it at least tries to start negotiations on the fate of its territories for the sake of stopping the fighting in Donbas? I do not rule out that such a scenario is also being considered in the Kremlin.

Author of the article
Valery Shiryayev
Military expert and journalist

Add a comment

  1. Braidyn

    This article really sheds light on how fragile political systems can be when rules and traditions aren’t firmly established. It’s scary to think how easily unrest can spread when influential figures push for military intervention or uprisings, especially in countries with complicated histories like Romania or Ukraine. The comparison between these different contexts makes me wonder how much the legacy of past regimes still influences present-day politics. The situation feels tense and uncertain, and it’s a reminder of how important stable institutions are for peace. 🕊️⚖️

    Reply
  2. Kaori

    This article really makes me reflect on how fragile political stability can be in places where the rules of the game are not deeply rooted or respected. It feels like a reminder that history often repeats itself in cycles of unrest and upheaval when societies are caught between old systems and new hopes. The idea that individuals like Potra or Prigozhin emerge as symbols of chaos in these ambiguous moments shows how easily the line between order and disorder can blur. It also raises a profound question about the nature of loyalty and the sacred oath to one’s country, especially when what defines the country or its leadership becomes contested. 🌍⚖️🕊️ It’s sobering to think about how these dynamics might play out in Ukraine, where the scars of shared history run deep and the pressure to make difficult decisions could unleash unpredictable consequences. Ultimately, it underscores how delicate and precious democracy really is, and how quickly it can be threatened when fear and suspicion take hold.

    Reply
  3. Sumaiya

    Reading about these political dramas makes me wonder if reality turned into a soap opera without telling me! Between TikTok campaigns, mercenaries, and calls for coups, it’s like someone threw a plot twist salad and forgot the dressing 🍿

    Reply
  4. Jaylene

    {comment:It’s fascinating how the article presents this far-right figure’s removal as some high-stakes political drama involving mysterious Russian interference, yet the details are so vague and conveniently ambiguous. Relying on mere suspicion to bar a candidate smacks more of political theater than genuine justice, and the European silence seems less about supporting democracy and more about apathy or strategic disinterest. As for the bizarre rallying cry from his assistant, it feels like a script from a low-budget political thriller rather than a serious crisis. The comparison with Prigozhin’s mutiny is as much about spectacle as substance, making it hard to take seriously. What worries me more is the casual speculation about internal coups in Ukraine, as if political instability should be expected or even normalized in post-Soviet societies. Ultimately, this article raises more questions than answers and seems to revel in chaos instead of clarity.}

    Reply