Romanian media reveals Govt. plans to join two museums in downtown Bucharest, place them under Environment Ministry, suggests real estate stake behind it

The Romanian Peasant Museum could be closed down, its building and land plot managed by the Antipa Museum, and its exhibits moved to the Romanian Village Museum, according to a recent Government draft decision, quoted by the Romanian media. The topic stirred media interest, as the Romanian Peasant Museum's building and adjoining land plot are located in downtown Bucharest, in Victoriei Square, opposite the Romanian Government. Media reports suggest this could be another real estate deal. The Romanian Peasant Museum director Virgil Stefan Nitulescu sent an open letter to Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta asking him to cancel the initiative. He said the museum was opened in 1906, and that the Communist regime only attempted to close down important institutions for the Romanian spirituality. Nitulescu also believes the project is motivated by a real estate deal. The PM has asked for the Romanian Peasant Museum to be managed by the Antipa Museum for Natural Science, and for both the institutions to be brought under the ownership of the Environment Ministry, according to local media. Environment Minister Rovana Plumb admitted there was a discussion about this, but no decision had been made. The newly appointed Culture Minister Gigel Stirbu, whose ministry currently manages the museums, said he knew nothing about this and he would not sign off on such a decision. Meanwhile, the director of the Antipa museum, Dumitru Murariu, said he knew nothing about the new government decision, but confirmed there were discussions with the Environment Ministry regarding expanding the museum, which is in desperate need for extra space. Murariu, however, said the Romanian Peasant Museum building would anyway not be suitable for the Antipa Museum to expand into. “The idea was never discussed,”said Murariu, quoted by Mediafax newswire. editor@romania-insider.com