Ilie Bolojan, about the Government press officer pushing the journalists: “I didn't see what happened, because I would have drawn his attention”
The Prime Minister of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, said on Thursday evening, in an interview granted to Digi24, that he regrets the incident that took place on Wednesday, when the journalists were roughed up by the Government's press officer.
PHOTO: Video capture
“It's a regrettable incident, I'm really sorry about the situation. I didn't encourage verbal or physical aggression towards anyone, not even towards journalists. I never tried to run away from journalists. I didn't ask any employee to do anything other than what's in the job description. I didn't see what happened, because I would have called his attention, told him to leave the journalists alone. (…). Let's make sure it doesn't happen again in the future”the prime minister explained.
Bolojan added that he does not approve of impromptu statements in chaotic situations:
“I don't like to make statements on the fly, while journalists are running after you. Some people, prime ministers, responded in this way, to make impromptu statements, I considered that it is not a proper manner, it generates a feeling of total disorder. (…). I have respect for the press, for communication, but this chaotic and disorderly form only creates this feeling of total disorder. (…). I have respect for the press, for communication, but this form is chaotic and messy just creates that feeling.”
Prior to the Prime Minister's statements, the Government announced that it had established a commission to investigate the behavior of the press officer involved in the incident in the halls of the Romanian Parliament.
