Cristian Tudor Popescu, critics of Oana Gheorghiu on the issue of magistrates' pensions: “Manipulative procedure”

Journalist and writer Cristian Tudor Popescu criticized, on Tuesday evening, Deputy Prime Minister Oana Gheorghiu for the argument she used regarding special pensions and implicitly commented on the public dispute between the two co-founders of the “Give Life” association.

“I cannot agree with the use by Mrs. (Oana) Gheorghiu, in support of the just idea that magistrates' pensions are scandalous, of the manipulative procedure argumentum ad misericordiam, the argument of mercy”, wrote the journalist, in a message published on his Facebook page and entitled “I can't keep silent”.

According to Cristian Tudor Popescu, this type of argument is used by “extremist demagogues” such as “Georgescu Dumnezeilă”, in an obvious reference to Călin Georgescu.

The journalist also notes the fact that Oana Gheorghiu and Carmen Uscatu ended up “communicating through bites in the press”, but says that he hopes that this will not affect the “Give Life” activity and donations to the organization.

What Cristian Tudor Popescu says:

• “I want Mrs. Gheorghiu to stay in the government as long as possible. I will continue to be with the “Give Life” Association.
• But I cannot agree with Mrs. Gheorghiu's use, in support of the just idea that magistrates' pensions are scandalous, of the manipulative procedure argumentum ad misericordiam, the argument of mercy. Invoking children in distress, in poverty, in hunger in relation to any subject is guaranteed to impress the audience. This is exactly what beggars do at intersections, when they come with a child in their arms. Extremist demagogues often use it, for example Georgescu Dumnezeilă: “They are idiots who eat bananas and wear jeans while children from the countryside go to bed hungry”. Of course, Ms. Gheorghiu is right, but the wording was, to borrow President Dan's diplomatic term, “unhappy”.
• The reaction of the CSM in the head with the radioactive wasp Elena Costache, criminal complaint for crime of opinion, is worthy of the Justice of Ceausist Romania or of Putin's Russia. There is a prison for opinion.
• Then, I couldn't help but comment on the surprise of the fracture exposed between Ms. Uscatu and Gheorghiu. For 13 years, their twin figures have been the guarantee for those who put their trust and money in «Give life». And now, we learn that Oana did not consult with Carmen when she left for the government, and the two “communicate” by biting in the press. Does this affect trust in “Give Life” and donations? We'll see. I hope not and will continue to be a Giver.
• Therefore, no one should expect from me that if I support someone, for example Mr. Bolojan and Ms. Gheorghiu, I will remain silent when reason and morality tell me that I must speak. And to feel offended if a man who has a good opinion of me does not tell me, reasoned, when he thinks I'm wrong.“

The Superior Council of the Magistracy, headed by Elena Costache, accused Oana Gheorghiu on Monday of committing an “attack” on the judicial power, through the statements about the magistrates' pensions. In an unprecedented move, the CSM stated that “it decided to notify the bodies empowered to carry out investigations under the aspect of committing the crime of incitement to violence, hatred or discrimination”.

The council claimed, in a press release, that, through his statements, Gheorghiu violated the independence of the judiciary and the status of magistrates in an “irresponsible” and “populist” way.

In a Saturday show on Digi24, Oana Gheorghiu compared the magistrates' pension system to “a kind of Caritas” and told the employees in the sector that “if that money has to go to them because they give sentences, they take it from somewhere, and they can take it from the mouth of a child who goes to bed hungry”.

On Tuesday morning, President Nicușor Dan announced that he would not sign a possible criminal prosecution request for Deputy Prime Minister Oana Gheorghiu.

Also on Tuesday, in an interview given to HotNews, Carmen Uscatu pointed out the incompatibility situation in which Oana Gheorghiu finds herself, which she categorized as “a very great vulnerability” to the “Dăruiește Viață” association.

The reason for the vulnerability is that, although he has suspended himself from executive roles, Gheorghiu still retains the capacity of a member with the right to vote in the NGO's General Assembly. This situation makes the international sponsors ask questions about a possible conflict of interests, said Carmen Uscatu.

Deputy Prime Minister Oana Gheorghiu conveyed, later in the day, that the fact that she remained a founding member of the association “Dăruiește Viață” does not make her incompatible with the position in the government. “Romanian legislation does not impose on members of the Government the obligation to renounce their capacity as founding members of a non-governmental organization, there are other people in the Government of Romania who are members of non-governmental organizations. (…) My status is 100% in accordance with the law”, the deputy prime minister emphasized, in a point of view sent to HotNews.

During the evening, Carmen Uscatu returned with a message, in which she insisted that Oana Gheorghiu was incompatible.

“Now we are a non-governmental organization faced with an unprecedented situation in Romania: an incompatibility of roles that Oana fulfills simultaneously, as a member of the non-governmental organization Dăruieste Viață and a member of the Government of Romania. We have spoken transparently about this truth in recent days, facing the hostility around us. Oana Gheorghiu will be the best Deputy Prime Minister of Romania. But, at the same time, I hope to have the wisdom to listen to the legitimate interest of our organization”, wrote Uscatu, in a message on Facebook.