President Iohannis, reaction to Laufer’s statements: References to anti-Semitism and Nazism in political dispute, irresponsible. Other reactions. Liberal leader: We summon PSD to firmly distance itself from Laufer’s accusations against Iohannis

President Klaus Iohannis strongly condemns the use of highly sensitive issues to a political end, underscoring that the references to anti-Semitism and Nazism in the political dispute are irresponsible and evince severe shortcomings of education, culture, diplomacy and historical knowledge. The president’s specifications come after Ilan Laufer’s statements, who accused Iohannis of anti-Semitism, after the president refused to sign the former’s appointment as Regional Development Minister. “Relativising anti-Semitism is a danger action that can generate anti-Semitic and discriminatory manifestations and can incite to hatred,” a press release of the Presidential Administration informs. The president considers that Ilan Laufer “by deliberately appropriating a text with ridiculous accusations, without any real grounds, has failed the test of maturity, preferring to play the loudspeaker role of PSD [Social Democratic Party, ed.n.]’s toxic propaganda. “The characters proffering such outrageous accusations automatically disqualify themselves and under no circumstance can assume such high positions in the Romanian state,” reads the release. President Iohannis considers that these accusations represent “a new example of the long-standing harmful rhetoric of the Social Democratic party, which constantly fuels hate speech and xenophobic trends. “It is unacceptable that the memory of the Holocaust be defiled with such attacks which serve petty interests and are meant to affect social peace,” the president maintains. According to him, taking back the memory of the Holocaust, as well as combating anti-Semitism have been priority objectives for Romania in the last two decades and such statements of an extremist nature can endanger the very good results that our country has obtained in all these years. “Romania is actively involved in the international demarches of combating anti-Semitism, a fact recognised and appreciated as such,” the Presidency’s press statement further shows. President Iohannis has also pleaded ever since the beginning of his term for the creation of the Holocaust and Jewish History Museum intended “for a better knowledge of the culture of the Jewish community and for preserving the historical truth.” “In June 2017, President Klaus Iohannis was awarded the “Light Unto the Nations” distinction, the most prestigious award granted by the American Jewish Committee. The decisive role of President Klaus Iohannis in consolidating democracy and the rule of law was thus acknowledged, as well as his sustained efforts to promote tolerance, combat anti-Semitism and xenophobia, and also for the strengthening of our country’s relations with the United States of America and Israel,” the Presidential administration further specifies.   Refused by President, Laufer accuses Iohannis of anti-Semitism: I’ll lodge complaint with CNCD   Ilan Laufer stated on Tuesday evening, at the headquarters of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), that President Klaus Iohannis refused to appoint him as Development Minister out of anti-Semitism, accusing the Head of State that this gesture comes in a long line of anti-Semitic actions. “My name is Ilan Laufer, from Romanian parents, born in Bucharest, at Polizu Maternity, not far from the seat of the Government of Romania. I have graduated in time, I performed in the private environment, I managed to attract over 400 million euro in Romania and contribute to the creation of many jobs. I have also performed in my mandate as minister at the Ministry of Business, Trade and Entrepreneurship, including through the Start-up Nation Program, by contributing to the law on prevention and the public-private partnership,” Laufer said. Ilan Laufer stated that Klaus Iohannis’s decision to reject his appointment as Development Minister is unconstitutional and represents “a new act of anti-Semitism.” Laufer said that the President also contributed to the sabotaging of the Romania-Israel joint Government meeting. “I am worried about the real reasons behind my rejection, when he refused me as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development, without motivating this decision, which is unconstitutional. I consider that the refusal of President Iohannis is, as far as I am concerned, a new act of anti-Semitism and I want to draw attention to the ongoing phenomenon of anti-Semitism demonstrated in the past year by President Klaus Iohannis”, Laufer said. He claimed that the President has had “several outbursts against the Jews and anti-Semitism statements” and that he blocked the appointment of a Romanian ambassador to Israel, wishing “to sabotage” relations with that country. Ilan Laufer stated that the Head of State contributed to “the sabotaging” of the joint meeting of the Israeli and Romanian Governments and that he wants “ties only with Berlin.” “As it is known, Mr. Iohannis had several outbursts against the Jews and antisemitic statements. He refused and blocked the appointment of an ambassador to Israel, wishing to sabotage the relationship between Romania and Israel. I can also tell you that he has contributed to the sabotaging of a joint Gov’t sitting that was due to take place between the Israeli and Romanian governments,” Ilan Laufer stated during a press conference at the PSD central headquarters on Tuesday evening. He added that Iohannis wants to block Romania’s relations with the U.S. and Israel. “Mr Iohannis has promised Ms Merkel that he will do everything possible to block the relocation of the Romanian embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a process initiated by President Liviu Dragnea as the first European politician who stated he will support this process after the American President announced he will relocate the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. (…) I have lately tried to contribute to a good relationship between the Romanian Government and the Government in Tel Aviv and at the same time to the consolidation of relations between Romania and the U.S., which has bothered President Klaus Iohannis very much and probably I must pay for this. (…) By refusing a person with very good relations with the U.S. and Israel, Iohannis is strengthening the conviction that he wants ties only with Berlin and the blocking of relations with the U.S. and Israel,” the ex-minister stated. He said that the anti-Semitic attacks against him are painful even more so since 52 of his relatives died in the Holocaust in Romania. “By refusing a person known to have very good...

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