Why not Nicușor Dan not promulgate the law that fights anti -Semitism: “As it is, if I read Shakespeare's works, I am liable to prison”
President Nicușor Dan claims that he does not promulgate the Vexler law, which sanctions extremism and anti-Semitism, as in the current form they would make prison and those who read classic texts from Shakespeare, containing anti-Semitic phrases.
President Nicușor Dan PHOTO: Gov.ro
In order to explain his decision, the head of state gave the example of the play “The undoubted Venice“, Written by William Shakespeare.”As that law is, if I give you the full works of Shakespeare, reading word by word, I am liable to prison because a song that is called Venice has some anti -Semitic phrases. We must have a balance ”, said Nicușor Dan, on TVR1.
President Nicuşor Dan announced last week that he will return to Parliament “Vexler Law”. After the Constitutional Court rejected his complaint, Nicușor Dan stated that he is waiting for the motivation of the CCR decision, after which he will resubmit the law to the legislative.
In motivating the solution, judges emphasize that terms such as “Nazism”, “fascism” and “Legionarism” It reflects concrete historical realities, which cannot be emptied of meaning through legal reinterpretations, because they have defined criminal political regimes that have committed atrocities and serious violations of human rights.
President Nicușor Dan said that he maintains his opinion that about half of the articles of this law are unconstitutional.
He acknowledged that there is a risk that a dissatisfaction in social essence would go into an area of hatred, xenophobia. “It comes from inequities in society, which comes from corruption, to go to an area of hatred, xenophobia, precisely because it comes from distrust of the country's political leadership ””said the head of state.
What provides for the law
In the law adopted by Parliament on June 11, 2025 it is stated that “The distribution or making available to the public, in any way, of fascist, legionary, racist and xenophobic materials and is punished by imprisonment from one year to 5 years and the prohibition of rights“, And if the deed is committed through a computer system,”The punishment limit increases by half”.
Also, a sanction was introduced from 3 months to 3 years for people who promote the cult of people “who were part of the management of fascist organizations ”.
Another change stipulates that: “The denial, contestation, approval, justification or minimization obviously, by any means, in public, of the Holocaust on the territory of Romania or its effects is punished with imprisonment from 6 to 3 years and the prohibition of some rights”Before there was the possibility of a fine, instead of the sanction with the prison.
