President Nicușor Dan Bans Journalist Ovidiu Vanghele From Cotroceni
President Nicușor Dan announced that journalist Ovidiu Vanghele is barred from Cotroceni Palace for the remainder of his presidential term, Digi24 reported. The decision follows social media insults directed at the head of state.
During a press conference on Tuesday evening, Vanghele, representing the Center for Investigative Journalism, questioned the president about a vote cast by Prosecutor General Cristina Chiriac. According to HotNews.ro, Chiriac voted against a proposal for the CSM prosecutors’ section to notify the Judicial Inspection regarding an alleged interference she committed.
Dan interrupted the proceedings to address Vanghele directly. “In the first place, I apologize for keeping you waiting until now,” Dan stated, according to the main source text. “Secondly, given the insults you brought me, I ordered that you no longer come to press conferences at Cotroceni Palace at this moment, in this mandate. My merciful colleagues jumped over my order, over my disposition. I communicate it to you and I apologize for making you wait, but you are not going to come anymore and you are not going to ask questions anymore in this mandate.”
Journalists and politicians condemn the ban on Vanghele
G4Media noted that Vanghele is a veteran investigative journalist and co-coordinator of the independent project “Să fie lumină,” and News.ro reported that journalist Emilia Şercan condemned the measure by stating that even Ion Iliescu never banned a journalist at Cotroceni. Cristi Dănileţ wrote on Facebook that high-ranking politicians must endure public criticism rather than issue public rebukes that violate freedom of expression, according to News.ro. USR leader Dominic Fritz also criticized the move, affirming that press freedom forms the basis of democracy. According to News.ro, Article 18 and Article 19 of Law 544/2001 state that public authorities cannot ban media access to public events and can only withdraw accreditation for actions disrupting normal operations, explicitly excluding expressed opinions. Independent senator Victoria Stoiciu and commentators Cătălin Prisăcariu, Răzvan Petri, and Vlad Adamescu also denounced the restriction as a dangerous precedent.
Questions about the ban against Ovidiu Vanghele
When did President Nicușor Dan announce the ban against Ovidiu Vanghele?
The announcement was made on Tuesday evening during a press conference held at Cotroceni Palace, as reported by HotNews.ro.
What specific question did Ovidiu Vanghele ask before the announcement?
Vanghele questioned the president about Prosecutor General Cristina Chiriac voting against a CSM proposal to have the Judicial Inspection investigate an alleged interference by Chiriac herself, according to G4Media.
Which legal provisions did critics cite regarding the restriction?
Critics and public figures invoked Romanian Law 544/2001, which prohibits authorities from barring media access to public events, as noted by News.ro.
Which outlets covered the Cotroceni press conference incident?
The event was reported by Digi24, HotNews.ro, G4Media, News.ro, and Oficiul de Știri.
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