LabMin:We've overcome a moment when right-wing extremism seemed to reach the top of the state

Romanian society has successfully overcome a difficult period when the right-wing extremism seemed to be reaching the top of the Romanian state once again, but the danger is not over, labour minister Florin Manole said on Thursday at a ceremony occasioned by the European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day.

The event took place at the Memorial to the Victims of the Holocaust in Romania

"This monument and today's date have meanings that should not be forgotten. It was rightly mentioned earlier that we have a law allowing this commemoration. However, we also have laws that prohibit other events, such as xenophobic and racist events and the worship of individuals guilty of crimes against humanity. We have had these laws for more than 20 years, and for more than 20 years, these laws have not always been observed and the authorities have not always intervened, unfortunately, to stop commemorations that glorify the Legion or that glorify crimes from the World War II, from before World War II," Manole said.

According to him, the right-wing extremism in Romania claimed victims before the Holocaust and, unfortunately, after it as well.

The minister mentioned that not only the Roma victims are commemorated, but also the resistance of those who tried to oppose and survive in Auschwitz.

He underscored that democratic values must be defended every day, mentioning that the National Defence Strategy lists right-wing extremism among the dangers to the country and that this document must be observed.

"I am therefore taking this opportunity to draw a signal, first and foremost as a Roma ethnic, without sidestepping my public responsibilities, but still as a Roma ethnic, and to say that we have all overcome, that the Romanian society has successfully overcome a difficult and challenging moment when right-wing extremism seemed to reach the top of the Romanian state once again, because it has been there before, but we have overcome a moment, the danger is not over. Therefore, we, those in public offices have a greater duty than every citizen to always speak about these values," the labour minister pointed out.