According to reports from News.ro published in September 2026, interim Deputy Prime Minister Oana Gheorghiu (PNL) criticized an AUR legislative proposal that mandates officials to kiss the Romanian flag during Flag Day ceremonies under threat of fines and criminal investigation, declaring that state-enforced patriotism is both absurd and stupid.
Legislative Penalties and Parliamentary Status of the AUR Flag Project
According to News.ro, the controversial legislative initiative concerning the Proclamation of the National Flag of Romania originated as an AUR project submitted to Parliament. The measure passed tacitly through the Senate in 2023 and advanced directly to the agenda of the Chamber of Deputies plenary without receiving a specialized committee report, as reported by News.ro.
The proposal introduces severe financial and legal penalties. Officials present at National Flag Day ceremonies who refuse to kiss the flag in order of protocol face fines between 5,000 and 10,000 lei, according to News.ro. Furthermore, officials who deliberately avoid attending the ceremony face criminal investigation for abuse in office.
Additional penalties target the broader public and media sectors. According to the source texts, media institutions that fail to broadcast 30 minutes of programming dedicated to the holiday face fines of 20,000 lei. Local authorities face fines of up to 30,000 lei if they fail to designate a public square named “Piața Tricolorului” within 45 days of the law’s promulgation.
Mandated Liturgical Rituals and Oana Gheorghiu’s Response
According to News.ro, the AUR legislative proposal also prescribes an explicit religious ritual for the official consecration ceremony. The text requires a military priest or church hierarch to stand before the flag and recite a specific blessing, make the sign of the cross over the fabric, kiss it, and remain positioned to the right of the flag holding a cross against their chest.
Interim Deputy Prime Minister Oana Gheorghiu condemned these provisions in a Facebook statement covered by News.ro. Gheorghiu pointed out that the prayer mandated by the bill does not exist anywhere within liturgical tradition, remarking that parliamentarians have begun writing prayers. She asserted that the idea of compelling love of country through coercion is absurd and stupid, adding that gestures performed solely to avoid fines or criminal probes offer no guarantee of genuine patriotism.
Defining Real Patriotism Beyond Official Ceremonies
According to statements published by News.ro, Gheorghiu argued that no democratic state maintains laws compelling citizens to display affection for their nation under threat of state repression. She stated that such measures represent remnants of past eras rather than true expressions of national devotion.
Gheorghiu emphasized that patriotism is not measured by participation in official ceremonies or kissing a flag, but by everyday actions. According to News.ro, she cited specific examples of citizens demonstrating daily patriotism: doctors treating patients with empathy, teachers preparing students for the future, civil servants resolving files with integrity, and workers striving to secure a better life for their children.
The interim deputy prime minister concluded that millions of Romanians both at home and abroad demonstrate greater dedication to their country than current parliamentary representatives. According to News.ro, Gheorghiu challenged politicians to prove their love of country through diligent daily work in service of citizens rather than performing ceremonial acts once a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What penalties are included in the AUR flag bill?
According to News.ro, officials who refuse to kiss the flag face fines between 5,000 and 10,000 lei, while avoiding the ceremony triggers criminal investigations for abuse in office. Media outlets face fines of 20,000 lei for non-compliance with broadcast requirements, and local authorities face fines of up to 30,000 lei for failing to designate a “Piața Tricolorului.”
When did the legislative project advance in Parliament?
According to the source texts, the bill was adopted tacitly by the Senate in 2023 and was subsequently placed on the agenda of the Chamber of Deputies plenary without a specialized committee report.
What was Oana Gheorghiu’s official reaction?
According to News.ro, interim Deputy Prime Minister Oana Gheorghiu criticized the bill on Facebook, stating that compelling love of country through coercion is absurd and that true patriotism is demonstrated through daily professional dedication rather than enforced ceremonial gestures.