The Supreme Court of Cassation and Justice granted President Klaus Iohannis’ request to cancel a fine of 5,000 lei received in May 2020 from the National Council for Combating Discrimination (CNCD) following his statements on the Sekel Region autonomy bill. .

The Bucharest Court of Appeal initially rejected the president’s request in January 2021, but the Supreme Court accepted Iohannis’ appeal and overturned the CNCD’s decision.

“Accepts the appeal filed by the appellant – the plaintiff President of Romania Klaus Werner Iohannis – through the Presidential Administration against judgment No. 100 of January 29, 2021 of the Bucharest Court of Appeal – Section VIII Administrative and Tax Disputes. Cancels the appealed judgment and, on retrial, recognizes the claim. Cancels Decision of the Board of Directors of the National Council for Combating Discrimination No. 443/20.05.2020. Final,” reads the court’s decision, cited by Agerpres.

On May 20, 2020, the Board of Directors of the CNCD imposed a fine of 5,000 lei on President Klaus Iohannis for discrimination and violation of the right to dignity based on ethnicity/nationality.

On the same day, the head of state announced that he would challenge the decision of the CNCD in court, believing that the decision by which it was introduced under sanctions was “deeply political”.

The head of state was sanctioned for statements made in the context of the silent approval by the Chamber of Deputies of the project on the autonomy of the Sekel region.

On April 29, 2020, Klaus Iohannis declared: “Jo napot kivanok, PSD” (“I wish you a good day, PSD”). It is unbelievable, dear Romanians, what is happening in the Romanian Parliament. The PSD helped the UDMR push through the Chamber of Deputies a law granting broad autonomy to Szeklerland. It’s incredible how far this PSD has come! It is incredible what agreements are made in the Romanian Parliament! While we, me, the government and other authorities, are fighting for the lives of Romanians, fighting to get rid of this pandemic, the PSD, the great PSD, is fighting in the secret offices of the parliament to give Transylvania to the Hungarians. . Jo nat, Cholak! (Hi Colaku!) What did the leader of Budapest, Viktor Orbán, promise in exchange for this deal? You see, dear Romanians, this means a toxic majority, a pesedist toxic majority. Therefore, gentlemen, now it is probably better understood why we wanted early elections. I no longer want the SDP to decide the important issues of the nation. I no longer want this toxic pesedist majority to decide against Romania and Romanians. This is unacceptable, and until I am the president of Romania, there will be no such law.”

According to the CNCD, Yohannis’s statement is an act of discrimination and violates the right to dignity based on ethnicity/nationality, according to Art. 2 para. (1) and Art. 15 OG137/2000.

At the time, the UDMR asked President Klaus Iohannis to apologize for Kotroceni’s statement on the Szeklerland law, Kelemen Hunor argued that it was a typical PRM message inciting hatred against Hungarians.

“Klaus Iohannis, hysterical and nervous, made a statement unworthy of a president with a typical violent and dangerous message for the PRM: the Hungarians are taking Transylvania away from us. Today, we have witnessed an unprecedented event in the last 30 years: from Kotrocheny, the microphone is grossly misinforming and inciting against Hungarians. UDMR strongly rejects such speeches and any incitement. The president should apologize for this dangerous mistake,” wrote Kelemen Hunor on Facebook.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjártó Péter also reacted to the harsh statements of President Klaus Iohannis and reminded him that Transylvanian Hungarians overwhelmingly voted for him in the presidential elections. “It should be clear to everyone. Therefore, our request, message and appeal to the President of Romania is simple: more respect for Hungarians,” said Sijarto Péter in a video message posted on Facebook.

After the critical response of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary to Klaus Iohannis, the Romanian IAE reacted by calling the Hungarian official’s statements about the president’s incitement of hatred “provocative and inappropriate”.

“The Hungarian official regretfully deflects the content of the Romanian president’s statements regarding the draft law on the status of the so-called “security territory” – a topic that is limited exclusively to the internal debate in Romania regarding a legislative approach that contradicts the Constitution of Romania, the Hungarian side should not comment on this matter. Therefore, the IEA considers the statements of the Hungarian official regarding the qualification of the speech of the President of Romania as incitement to hatred provocative and inappropriate, and understands that the Hungarian side needs to review its own positions and actions, which show a lack of respect for Romania and high-ranking officials of Romania,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.

After that, President Iohannis said that he has problems not with people of Hungarian nationality, but with politicians, especially PSD.

“Then I made a few statements, and I hope that was well understood. I have no problem with people of Hungarian nationality. I know many of them, I had many colleagues, I have colleagues, I respect them, the vast majority are hardworking, hardworking people who look after their own. I have a problem with the politicians, especially the PSD politicians who at the top tried to push legislation for the autonomy of the Sekelian Land. It’s surprising and, I admit, frustrating for me and, I think, for many of you,” Johannis said.