A debate in society should be genuine, involving real people, President Nicusor Dan underlined on Thursday at an award ceremony for actor Victor Rebengiuc, held at the Romanian Athenaeum.
Victor Rebengiuc received the European Romania 2025 Prize from the Initiative for European Democratic Culture Association.
"We Romanians tend to turn living, dynamic things into stereotypes. Eminescu, our unparalleled poet, is hardly read anymore. And the same is happening with democracy, and with Europe. Europe has become a stereotype: we take European funds and feel we should say nothing, simply pleased to receive them. But that is not the case. Europe is a living organism, with its own doubts and its own debates," the president said.
He advocated for a country connected to the current dialogue.
"I believe that if we want Romania to matter within the European Union, we must align ourselves with the issues that this living organism is dealing with," the head of state explained.
Nicusor Dan referred to the major roles played by Victor Rebengiuc, confessing that Forest of the Hanged is a film he no longer has the courage to watch a second time.
According to the president, Morometii also reached "a form of universality" that, in his view, no other Romanian film has achieved.
Nicusor Dan praised the actor's dedication and the fact that, throughout the latter's career, "he was not carried away by success and continued to work.'
The president went on to highlight the artist's social involvement.
"'You are a successful actor ... when you speak out and tell certain truths, and the press and society begin to criticise you, it is not easy. But if we want this society to develop, we must have the courage especially those with professional prestige to say what we believe about our society, to help restore it to health," the head of state said.
According to him, "we are living in times in which many of our reference points, including the moral reference points of society, are being questioned," and there is an acute need for role models "living people, with their doubts."
"I would like to see such role models more often in television studios, because unfortunately, right now, 90% of the people who appear there already know what they are going to say before they open their mouths. If we want to have a democracy and a debate among us, the citizens of this society, I believe it must be real, with real people. If you can make this effort, I, as a citizen of this society, would be very happy," Nicusor Dan said.
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