Writer Radu Vancu draws attention to the fact that some measures announced or prepared by the government led by Ilie Bolojan risk weakening essential pillars of Romanian culture and education, opening the way to extremism.
It is about raising the VAT on books, subordinating the Romanian Cultural Institute to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and aggressive policies towards teachers.
"To raise the price of books means to fuel extremism," Radu Vancu asserts decisively in a public post on Facebook. He refers to the government's intention to increase VAT on books and school manuals. In his opinion, this measure directly threatens the survival of publishers and bookstores, especially small and independent ones.
The impact would be devastating not only for culture in Romania but also for that in the Republic of Moldova, where publishers must pay the full tax when the print run enters the country.
"It's pointless to say that we have a single Romanian language culture on both sides of the Prut River if we assassinate the one beyond the Prut with an irrational and unnecessarily high VAT on books," warns the writer.
In the absence of access to books, he says, it creates an "environment extraordinarily conducive to extremism."
Politicization of Culture
The second measure criticized by Radu Vancu is the transfer of the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) under the authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The writer considers this decision a severe blow to cultural autonomy, transforming the ICR into a mere instrument for promoting the state's official positions.
"Condemning the ICR to export culture aligned with the official line means the death of the ICR," warns Vancu, who argues that the institution should be "repaired, not destroyed in any way."
In his opinion, this subordination risks turning cultural diplomacy into a propagandistic annex.
Conflict with Teachers, a Risk to Society
The writer also criticizes the current government's attitude towards teachers, who face the prospect of increased work norms and the obligation to spend 8 hours a day at school, regardless of the context. Vancu emphasizes that these teachers are the ones who, "for decades, have helped sustain a terribly underfunded education."
In the absence of a functional and state-supported education, the public space becomes vulnerable to populist, authoritarian, and anti-European messages.
"It's not too late for these three measures to not become reality. And if they do, I fear it will already be too late," concludes Radu Vancu.
Government Measures Dissatisfy Students as Well
The recently announced cutting of scholarships for students has sparked a strong reaction from those affected by the measure. Students take to the streets on Thursday to draw attention to the fact that reducing the budget for this type of incentive will deepen social inequalities and limit real access to higher education.
Education Minister Daniel David recently announced that the current scholarship system is financially unsustainable, and in the context of the budget crisis, a serious reorganization will be necessary.