Violent Acts and Sensationalism Distort the Web

Romanian Far-Rightists Storm Digital Environment

Following the rejection of the so-called "Sovereignty Bill" by Romania's Chamber of Deputies on May 10, the political climate has further deteriorated.

The law initiative, signed by 23 MPs from the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, AUR, two from the Social Democratic Party, PSD, and two unaffiliated MPs, and which was on the list for a vote in the Chamber of Deputies, aimed, among other things, to extend the powers of the Intelligence service, empowering it to oblige civilians or companies, as well as public authorities and institutions, to collaborate with the institution.

Police officers secure the entrance from the protestors in the yard of the parliament during the 'No Green Pass' rally in front of Parliament building in Bucharest, Romania, 21 December 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/ROBERT GHEMENT

On May 10, two AUR MPs live-streamed themselves harassing Alfred-Robert Simonis, leader of the Social Democratic parliamentary group in the hallway of the Chamber of Deputies. One of the two MPs, Dumitru-Viorel Focșa, as he left the plenary hall, threatened Simonis, telling him: "I will walk over your body. You are a bastard!" Following this, Simonis also hurled insults at the two MPs. This angered supporters of the far-right party, who further insulted and harassed Simonis on Facebook. Later that day, AUR politician also admitted threatening to beat Simonis

A second case saw George Nicolae Simion, leader of the AUR, storm his way into a media outlet. On May 18, after Virgil Popescu, the Minister of Energy, accused him of defending Russian interests in Romania, he live-streamed himself breaking into the newsroom of Digi24 news TV station. Two security guards accused him of...