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politics1d ago
Are Romanians really protesting against an 'anti–free speech' law?
- Thousands protested in Bucharest against a 2025 law aimed at combating extremism and hate speech.
- The bill was proposed by MP Silviu Vexler and targets fascist, legionary, racist and xenophobic content.
- President Nicușor Dan sent the bill back for re-examination, citing unclear definitions in the original draft.
- Experts say the law updates existing hate-speech rules and narrows illegitimate content without banning literature or education.
- Protests included rhetoric linking the law to national memory and figures like Mihai Eminescu.
- Experts say there were no recorded cases of free-speech abuse under earlier versions of the law.
- The protest movement is led by far-right figures, amplifying debate over national identity.
- The bill would ban public honours for war criminals while allowing context in education and arts.
- Parliament re-adopted the law in December, renewing public debate on free speech limits.
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