The reaction of the Roma for Democracy organization to Radu Miruță's statements. “It normalizes discrimination precisely from the position of power”

The “Roma for Democracy” organization asks President Nicușor Dan, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and USR leader Dominic Fritz not to appoint Radu Miruță, the current Minister of Economy and interim Minister of Defense, as Minister of Defense. The NGO claims that the statement made by Miruță, who said that “I don't move like a gypsy with a tent” represents the “normalization of discrimination” in the area of ​​political power.

“The statement of the Minister of the Economy, circulated as the future Minister of Defense, Radu Miruță, in which he uses the expression “So, I stayed where I was before. I am not moving like a gypsy with a tent”, is unacceptable in a democratic state and deeply offensive to a part of Romania's citizens”, says a message posted on the Facebook account of Rome for Democracy.

The NGO claims that the statement is not a simple escape of the minister, but represents the resumption of a racist stereotype that associates the Roma with instability, disorder and lack of dignity.

“We are not talking about an 'escape', but about the reproduction of an old racist stereotype, which associates the Roma with instability, disorder and lack of dignity. Such language is not only offensive, but also dangerous, because it normalizes discrimination precisely from the position of power”, believe those from Roma for Democracy.

Remembering that the Ministry of Defense is one of the most important institutions of the state, the use of such language by the holder of this portfolio shows that he does not consider citizens as equal and worthy of respect.

“Racism is not compatible with high-ranking public positions. You cannot lead a fundamental institution for national security if you hold, even at the level of language, a vision that excludes or humiliates (…) A Minister of Defense must be a guarantor of equality and social cohesion. A racist should not lead one of Romania's most important ministries,” the Roma for Democracy message also says.

Miruta: “I'm not moving like a gypsy with a tent”

In an intervention on Prima News, where he spoke about the incomes he collects, the Minister of Economy and Interim Minister of National Defense, Radu Miruță (USR), used “a discriminatory expression, which would have nothing to look for in any civilized dialogue in the modern world”, explains, in a dialogue with HotNews, the sociologist Gelu Duminică.

The minister was asked if he receives two salaries, as a parliamentarian and as a minister, and he confirmed: “Of course, I also receive from the Parliament, that I am also a member of the Parliament. You receive a salary as a parliamentarian and as a minister, that's the law,” Miruţă explained to Prima News.

He mentioned that he receives 12,000 lei from the ministry and 10,800 from the Parliament. Later he came back and said that he made a mistake, because he does not receive a salary from the parliament. “I receive money from the Parliament, but they are lump sums.”

Asked in the same show about the fact that the Parliament pays for his accommodation, USR Minister Radu Miruță said “I stayed where I was staying before. I am not moving, like the gypsy with the tent. I am staying where I stayed, in an apartment in the Iuliu Maniu area, in sector 6 and I am very comfortable there”, said the USR minister.

Contacted by Hotnews, the sociologist Gelu Duminică says that the minister's reply is so rooted in our culture that he does not believe that the politician realized what he said.

“They are the judgments and prejudices we have. Many times we don't even understand them anymore and we don't even realize them anymore. It is logical that it is a discriminatory expression, which would have nothing to look for in any civilized dialogue in the modern world. I am convinced that Mr. Miruță did not even realize it, it is so deeply rooted. In sociological theory this is called unconscious prejudice. Like it or not, we all have them”, says the expert.