Romania’s Council of National Minorities (CNM) has asked for the resignation of Marosvásárhely/Târgu Mureș mayor, Dorin Florea, for racist and hatred-inciting remarks. The statement of the CNM was initiated by the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ) and the Pro-Europe Roma Party, both members of the council.
Romania’s anti-discrimination watchdog CNCD fined Florea on Wednesday RON 10,000 (EUR 2,100) for a speech inciting hatred after he suggested would-be parents should be screened and the rights of the Roma ethnic minority to have children be restricted.
Florea said in a Facebook post that the state should screen would-be parents for stable job, financial resources, age and education level and even remove children from families who do not fit these criteria.
“I don’t think we should boost demographics at any cost,” Florea added. His comments came as parliament voted in December to double subsidies for school children.
The CNM statement said that, besides inciting hatred and being racist, Florea’s remarks are also unconstitutional.
“We remind [people] that Marosvásárhely is a multi-ethnic city inhabited by Romanians, Hungarians, Roma, Jews and other minorities who have been living together peacefully for centuries. Through his remarks, Mayor Dorin Florea incited the local and national population to hatred and discrimination against the Roma minority,” the statement said. “We have concluded that Dorin Florea must make a public apology to the Roma community and resign his position.”
Title image: Marosvásárhely mayor, Dorin Florea
