Romania investigates mercenary linked to presidential candidate after guns and cash haul

FILE PHOTO: Romanian independent far-right presidential candidate Calin Georgescu poses for a portrait following an interview with Reuters in Izvorani, near Bucharest Romania, December 4, 2024. REUTERS/Andreea Campeanu/File Photo

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romanian prosecutors on Friday called for the temporary arrest of a mercenary who stashed illegal weapons and cash at home and 20 other people with links to the far-right frontrunner in last year's canceled presidential election pending an investigation.

Former French Foreign Legion soldier Horatiu Potra, who has served as a military contractor in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is an associate of far-right candidate Calin Georgescu, who topped the first round of a presidential ballot in November.