Rareș Bogdan, the same thesis as George Simion and Anca Alexandrescu, in the scandal of the closure of Realità Plus. Harsh accusations by the PNL MEP
The PNL MEP, former star of Realitatea, criticized CNA's decision to withdraw the license of the Realitatea Plus station.
“Closing a television station can only be a reason for joy for a man who does not understand democracy. Democracy also means being criticized. It even means encouraging the press to criticize you, because that's healthy. So that you don't slip. So that you don't become a dictator. In the USA there is a lot of dementia, lying, manipulation on TV stations, but no one even thinks about shutting them down. Many crazy people or sane people, who criticize power or promote the effect of gumboots on moonlight, express their opinions because they are free to do so. In America you can say anything on TV, because the only judge is the public. You can watch quality stations, for which information verification is law, stations focused on investigations, where journalistic ethics have value, or you can taste circus, cosmic delirium, disingenuous propaganda, whatever corresponds to deep frustrations or political strategies discrete groups”, writes Rareș Bogdan on Facebook.
He recalls that “in the winter of 2016, when ANAF summoned Antena 3 to evacuate the premises in 5 days, we defended the station's journalists. We were not friends, we were also attacked, being in direct competition. But let's not confuse things! It would not have been right not to have reacted then! Either we defend the rule of law, and then we do not consider that democracy is a Swedish buffet, from which you only take what you like, or we we assume that we use the rule of law only when it suits us”.
Rareș Bogdan recalls that he worked for 12 years at Realitatea TV.
“I had freedom of movement, I collaborated with many professionals, I felt what it means to have a team that makes an audience because it invests its whole soul in the viewers. You can not embrace their editorial policy, you have that freedom, but I will never agree to the suppression of freedom of expression. We don't like it? That's fine! But if one day someone decides to suppress another station, where they only hear things they hate? “No I agree with what you're saying, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it” – where did I hear that?” Good people, the right to an opinion is universal, not just for those who have the same beliefs as us!”.
“Political Revenge”
In the end, he clearly accuses CNA of withdrawing the license of the TV station.
“Licensing is a pretext. Realitatea Plus has its fines paid up to date. The tax certificate shows it. The decision to revoke its license was made because in 2024 there would have been 6 months in which they did not pay the fines. At this point I have no reason to believe what the CNA is saying. Why didn't they intervene then? Why retroactively? To create even more conflict? Laziness? Frustration? Stupidity? Villainy? Maybe the Good Lord see, judge, analyze. As the decision to close Realità Plus shows today, it seems strictly a political revenge and will have consequences for the image of what democracy means in an EU state”, says the PNL MEP.
The thesis of a political motivation behind the withdrawal of the Realità Plus license was also stated by George Simion, but also by the star of the station, Anca Alexandrescu, the former candidate supported by AUR for the Capital City Hall.
