Romanian President Nicușor Dan has been criticized for not signing legislation against hate speech and rhetoric favoring fascists.
Silviu Vexler, a lawmaker and the president of the Federation of the Jewish Communities of Romania, on Friday returned a state honor to protest the president’s decision to challenge the law. He said that without the legislation, Romania’s plan for combating antisemitism would become ineffectual and should therefore be scrapped.
The president’s actions will “encourage the further promotion of the legionary [fascist] ideology, of the leaders of extremist organizations, inevitably, of antisemitism and all forms of extremism,” Vexler said in a statement on Friday.
Mr. Dan however said the legislation may infringe on constitutional freedoms, and outlaw the honoring of some anti-communism activists.
Dan sent the law for legal scrutiny after it was passed by parliament on Friday. The Constitutional Court is due to rule next week on whether the legislation aligns with the freedoms of speech provided in the constitution.
