A Romanian government minister resigned on Wednesday after he was accused of plagiarizing a master’s degree and pretending to graduate from another university.
Florin Roman, minister of research, innovation and digitalization, admitted to “negligence” in his resume but did not admit outright to plagiarism.
He said he was stepping down from the government because he did not want to “affect its activity” with a public scandal. Government sources said Tuesday that the prime minister would ask for his resignation if he did not clarify the situation.
In response, Mr Roman, who is from the Liberal Party which nominally leads the coalition, said: “I resigned today as minister. “
“ When white turns black, when every word is misinterpreted, when you make material mistakes, and are lynched in your first day in office, it’s too much.”
He accused former Premier Dacian Ciolos of coordinating an attack against him, without allowing a court or commission to rule on the matter. He said he would sue him.
Mr Ciolos asked Premier Nicolae Ciuca to fire him calling him “a small-time impostor.”
Mr Roman was accused of stating he is a graduate of the Cluj Babeș-Bolyai University, when in fact he was at college in another town. He attended courses at the Cluj university.
He is also accused of copying his master’s thesis.
UBB Rector Daniel David pointed out that Roman did graduate from the university.
