Lawmaker Silviu Vexler who spearheaded a tough new law against antisemitism and xenophobia is facing a backlash after he removed nationalist images from the parliament rostrum amid clashes over laws that would impose harsh penalties on extremist ideology.
The measure sets long prison terms for glorifying Nazis and denying the Holocaust.
Before Vexler spoke about the law in parliament, a nationalist lawmaker an A4 page on the speaker’s podium bearing the portraits of eight figures, mostly from the 19th century, who are often considered part of Romania’s literary and intellectual elite.
The page referenced claims that the law was too broad and could result in the banning of luminaries whose writings contained racist or antisemitic rhetoric.
Vexler removed the page, but it was handed back to him. He then tore up the page in front of cameras. The footage led to “an explosion of antisemitic manifestations on social networks, with incitement to maximum violence,” according to the Elie Wiesel National Institute for Holocaust Studies in Romania.
Under the law, individuals who distribute online “fascist, Legionary, racist and xenophobic materials” face a prison term of 1.5 to 7.5 years. Legionnaires were a pro-Nazi paramilitary force operating during the reign of collaborator Ion Antonescu during World War II, when Romania was part of Nazi Germany’s Axis.
Those who glorify Antonescu or anyone guilty of genocide charges face a sentence of three months to three years, or a fine, under the law, which expanded Romania’s 2015 legislation against hate speech. Individuals found guilty of establishing or supporting “organizations with a fascist, Legionary, racist or xenophobic character” face three to 10 years in prison under the new law.
The law, widely referred to in Romania as the Vexler Law, is among the most robust of its kind in Europe.
Vexler later wrote in a statement that his actions were “an instinctive reaction to the endless verbal and physical aggression, hatred and threats directed against me and my family, to the accusations of ‘genocide’ and ‘national treason’.” He added: “I did not notice who or what was on that paper, which I initially tried to move.”
The lower house of Romania’s parliament, the Chamber of Deputies, adopted the law on Dec. 17 through a majority of 176 lawmakers out of 330. It is to become effective this week as it has already been reviewed by the Senate and by President Nicușor Dan.
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