We have joined the over 110 non-governmental organizations, either members or unaffiliated with the Coalition of NGOs for Citizens, who today released a public letter calling on all political parties in Romania to take a clear, public stance against Călin Georgescu and to support his opponent, Elena Lasconi.
The full text of the letter:
Following the first round of the presidential elections, Romanians have decided to send two candidates – Călin Georgescu and Elena Lasconi – to the second round of the elections for President of Romania.
We respect the vote of the citizens who elected candidate Călin Georgescu. At the same time, information in the public arena shows that he is a real danger to democracy, rights and freedoms in Romania. Through his statements, Călin Georgescu is challenging hard-won rights won over the last 35 years and is a direct threat to citizens, institutions and Romania’s European orientation. Furthermore, the open support expressed by Călin Georgescu for Russia and Vladimir Putin represents a threat to national security, in a geopolitical context marked by the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine, the worst armed conflict in Europe since the Second World War.
We list some of the views expressed by Călin Georgescu, which we consider a major danger for democracy and the Romanian state:
- Călin Georgescu opposes Romania’s European project, on which there is a national consensus and which is mentioned in the Romanian Constitution. In addition, Călin Georgescu recently declared that he would abandon NATO if he became president.
- On several occasions, Călin Georgescu has praised people guilty of crimes, such as Corneliu Zelea Codreanu and Ion Antonescu, which indicates the openness to the use of violence in politics and the marginalization of ethnic minorities.
- The candidate also expresses his openness and admiration for authoritarian and dictatorial regimes, first and foremost that of Vladimir Putin in Russia.
- Călin Georgescu denies discoveries from various fields of science – medicine, physics, mathematics, astrophysics – in favor of mystical-religious explanations. Undermining confidence in science, especially medicine, is a serious threat to public health.
- The candidate denies equal rights and disregards women, for whom he reserves a maternal or supportive role, while giving only men leading roles in society.
- At the same time, Mr. Georgescu excludes from society, through his discourse, different social groups such as the LGBT community, Roma, Jews.
- On the economic area, Mr.Georgescu proposes a utopian, manipulative and populist program in response to the expectations of the Romanian electorate.
For all these reasons, we believe that Mr. Georgescu is a real danger to the rule of law, democracy and freedom in Romania. We believe that his entire election campaign is based on manipulation and populist response to citizens’ expectations and on exploiting voters’ legitimate discontent with the current political class.
This is why we call on all political parties in Romania to take a firm, public stance against Călin Georgescu and to support his counter-candidate, Elena Lasconi.
Our request does not represent unconditional support for Elena Lasconi. It is our belief that Elena Lasconi will have the wisdom, reason and modesty to understand her unique situation. She will understand that this public endorsement is for a set of shared values and not for the party that is proposing it. From the position of President, she will act not as a representative of a party, but as a catalyst for repairing the lack of trust that is now plaguing Romanian society.
Our organizations will continue to penalize the misdeeds of political leaders, whoever they may be.
Signatories:
CeRe: Resource Center for Public Participation
CIVICA Association
Center for Legal Resource
European Center for Legal Education and Research (ECLER)
Rădăuțiul Civic Association
ActiveWatch
Spiritual Militia
MozaiQ LGBT Association
Respiro Association Human Rights Research Center
Foundation for Civil Society Development
Center for Public Innovation
FONSS – Federation of Non-Governmental Organizations for Social Services – 46 NGO members
FILIA Center
ANAIS Association
Ecopolis Center for Sustainable Policies
Center for the Study of Democracy
Romanian Youth Movement for Democracy
Estuar Foundation
On Stop Association
Association Feminism Romania
TERRA Millennium III Foundation
Romanian Center for European Policies
Transcena Association
GRADE AOD
Give Life
ARAS – Romanian Anti-AIDS Association
Partner for You Association
LOGS Association – Social Initiative Group
PARADA Foundation
UNIC Association
Corona Iasi Foundation
Ecovas Association
Romanian Women’s Lobby Association
Women Get Involved
Mediation and Community Safety Center Foundation
ImagIS Association
Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation
Youth for Youth Foundation
Center Partnership for Equality – CPE
Roma Education Fund
A.R.T. Fusion Association
Bankwatch Romania
Association Center for Nonprofit Legislation – CLNR
SEVA Suceava Association
Together Agency Foundation
Orientat Association
E-Romnja Association (Association for the Promotion of Women’s Rights in Rome)
Dizabil.EU Group
Civic Magura Initiative Group
I.O.R. Civic Initiative Group Titan
Kiseleff Civic Initiative Group
True Health Association
Accept Association
ECPI- Euroregional Center for Public Initiatives
euRespect Association
Association Sustainable Organized Society SOS
People First Association
Federation National Council of Disability in Romania
Real Sports Association
Artipic Association
„Me, You and Them” Association
Queer Sisterhood Cluj- Hilltop Org
Vulgar Association
Loud Iași Community Initiative Group
Identity.Education Association
Aresel Civic Platform Association
Association for Community Relations (ARC)
Royal Margareta of Romania Foundation
Odorheiu Secuiesc Community Foundation
Țara Făgărașului Community Foundation
Brasov Community Foundation
Făgăraș Research Institute
Mediawise Society
Transylvania Transparent Association/Átlátszó Erdély
Network to Prevent and Combat Violence Against Women (VAW Network), 25 member organizations
Coalition for Gender Equality, 15 member organizations
Bucharest Community Foundation
Civic Floreasca
IOTA Association
Gabriela Ionescu and Slavomir Popovici Cultural Association
Super Festival Association
HORPAZ CIVIC ATTITUDE Association
Romanian Youth Council Federation
Education Saves You Association
Romanian Ecotourism Association
Inovatrium Association
Amural Association
Association Sports Club Logic 64 Brasov
Colors Association
Rise OUT Association
Association SEX vs BARZA
Association [H] Brasov
TransCore Association
Creionam Viitorul Association
Clean Bucovina Association
Forum Apulum
Right Association
AnA – Society for Feminist Analysis
Mod of Life Association
Mures Community Foundation
Suryam Association
Buckner Foundation
Civic Initiative Group – For playgrounds and green spaces in Grozăvești
Association of Romanian Women in Italy – ADRI
Freedom House Foundation, Romania
Social Dialogue Group – SDG
Association Supporting Social Integration (ASIS)
Timisoara Society
Association for Technology and Internet – ApTI
Integration Center for Migrants Brasov (ARPCPS)
New Data Academy Association