The law on combating extremism was sent for re-examination by President Nicusor Dan, who assessed that the current form of the normative act could lead to "amplification of tensions".
"I have submitted to Parliament the request to re-examine the law amending GEO 31/2002 on combating extremism. The Romanian state has the duty to act firmly against hatred, xenophobia and incitement to discrimination. However, this duty can only be fulfilled through clear, predictable and balanced laws. Otherwise, we risk the opposite effect, amplifying tensions in an already polarized society and deepening distrust in state institutions," the head of state wrote on Facebook.
He emphasizes that, in its current form, the law is insufficiently clear in defining some crimes.
"Some articles can be interpreted abusively, which could turn people with no connection to extremism into criminals. For example, the new law provides for prison sentences of one to five years for distributing any material containing xenophobic ideas, without distinguishing between extremist propaganda materials and literary works or historical texts. Romania needs both firmness and balance. Both are essential for defending democracy," the president adds.
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