NEW YORK – In response to Romanian President Nicușor Daniel Dan’s decision to the delay the enactment of critical legislation targeting antisemitism, Holocaust denial and far-right extremism, World Jewish Congress President Amb. Ronald S. Lauder issued the following statement:
“I am deeply concerned by President Dan’s decision to delay the adoption of legislation that would significantly strengthen Romania’s ability to confront antisemitism and the distortion of Holocaust history. This is a law that has twice been declared constitutional and was developed through broad cooperation with Romania’s democratic institutions.
“President Dan’s decision to request a re-examination has been widely perceived, both domestically and internationally, as legitimizing efforts to rehabilitate war criminals and emboldening those who seek to deny or distort the Holocaust. This carries the risk of eroding decades of progress Romania has made in confronting its past and honoring the memory of its victims.
“We respectfully urge President Dan to consider the broader implications of delaying the enactment of this legislation and to support its swift adoption."
According to 2023 estimates, Romania is home to a community of 8,900 Jews and was one of the largest Jewish communities in the world before the Holocaust.
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