Romania’s Justice Ministry refused to renew the accreditation of two journalists, invoking inappropriate behavior (breaching the regulation set by the host institution, under Art 18, paragraph 3 of the Law 544.2011 that guarantees free access to information).

Justice minister Tudorel Toader in a Facebook post said that the two “breached the accreditation terms”. The two journalists were representing Pro TV and Realitatea TV, Hotnews.ro reported.

The Pro TV reporter Ovidiu Oanta said in a Facebook post that justice minister Toader had repeatedly told him he would revoke his accreditation due to his questions. Pro TV reacted saying that by denying Oanta's right to attend the justice minister's briefings, the Justice Ministry was denying the Romanians' right to "correct, objective and well-documented information," according to Hotnews.ro. 

Former President Traian Basescu also defended the two journalists, arguing that irrespective of the journalists’ (biased or not biased) comments, refusing their accreditation was a mistake. “I have to confess that for ten years as President of Romania, many journalists who were accredited to the Presidency, were listening to me during the statements, challenging me at times, then criticizing me at their television stations. Whether they were from Realitatea, the Antennas, Romania TV or printed media, it never crossed my mind to refuse renewing their accreditation,” Basescu stated.

Justice minister Tudorel Toader later said that the prime minister asked him to re-accredit the Pro TV journalist.

editor@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Gov.ro)