We are apolitical Romanians: Councilor USR Ghise requested that the protocols of the City Hall with Junii Sibiului prohibit politicians from taking the stage. Fodor: It’s impossible

The two collaboration protocols of Sibiu City Hall with Junii Sibiului, proposed by Astrid Fodor, were approved by local councilors, not before debating the introduction of an amendment that would prohibit the use of the stage by politicians.

The local administration will allocate 590,000 lei this year to the “Junii Sibiului” Center for the organization of two events. The first is called “We are Romanians”, a show that takes place annually in Sala Transilvania and is dedicated to the celebration of Romania’s National Day on December 1; and the second one will be organized on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Junes.

Read also: We are Romanians: collaboration protocol between the mayor’s office and Junii Sibiului

Before the two projects were put to the vote, USR councilor Ionuț Ghise wanted to ask for the support of mayor Astrid Fodor to introduce an amendment to the content of the collaboration protocols, which would provide for the prohibition of the use of the cultural stage by politicians who hold public positions or who are involved in this year’s election campaign. According to him, the amendment was rejected in the specialized committee by the representatives of the other three parties in the Council.

“The traditions and culture of Sibiu have made this land known not only in Romania, but all over the world. The Junes of Sibiu are not only a form of joy, music, and traditional Sibiu dance, but also a true cultural heritage of this county. It is a duty for the municipality of Sibiu to support this phenomenon.

But we really want this phenomenon not to be a political scene. True, honest generosity is when you give, you don’t expect applause.

That’s why we proposed that in the decision by which we allocate the necessary funding to the “Junii Sibiului” institution, we should put a condition of common sense: their shows should no longer be the advertising poster of politicians. People are tired of seeing politicians parading on stage (…)”, said Ghise.

Mayor Fodor immediately replied that he would not adopt this amendment. “I understand your point of view, but I don’t think it is possible to prohibit a person, even a public one, from participating in an event and if invited by the host, by the organizers to go on stage and refuse this invitation. I cannot appropriate such an amendment”.

She also wanted to specify that as mayor, during a year, she receives “at least 100 invitations to various events”. “I don’t think you saw me at 99 of them (…) I don’t think we can introduce such an amendment. It depends on everyone how they handle such situations”, Fodor added to me.

The leader of the liberals from the local council, Adrian Bibu, intervened in the discussion, who replied that “politicians don’t go up on stage”: “Usually the mayor, the president of the CJ, the vice-president go up. I think that he (with reference to Ghise – nn), as a representative of the political party, never went on stage. If he ever holds a public office, it is normal that he be invited there, because you represent the community. Indeed, I agree that you, when it comes to a political position, will not be able to go on the stage of Junia Sibiului”.

“There are discreet politicians, but there are also politicians who are not like that,” concluded Ghise.

Both projects were voted, in the end, with an abstention from councilor Adrian Bibu.

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