Journalist Ovidiu Vanghele’s first reaction after learning from Nicușor Dan that he would be banned from Cotroceni

President Nicușor Dan announced on Tuesday evening that investigative journalist Ovidiu Vanghele will no longer be able to attend the press conferences held at Cotroceni Palace for the duration of the current term. The decision was communicated live, immediately after the journalist asked his question.

The head of state claimed that the measure was taken following “insults” allegedly directed at him by the journalist. Nicușor Dan apologized for the waiting time, but stated that Vanghele would no longer be able to attend press meetings and would no longer be able to ask him questions.

Subsequently, the journalist stated that his regret was that he had not received an answer to the question addressed to the president.

“I have only one grievance after this evening: that I did not receive an answer from the president to my question, and this outcome can be attributed, to some extent, to me as well, because I did not have the presence of mind to insist politely that he answer me. In my defense, I admit that I was astonished by the president’s words, and I reproach myself for that—I should have been better than that.

My question was the following:

“I am presenting you with a fact: prosecutor general Cristina Chiriac, whom you appointed to office on April 8, voted one month—one and a half months—ago, in the CSM’s prosecutors’ section, of which she is a member—she is an ex officio member there—against the proposal that this section notify the Judicial Inspection so that the Judicial Inspection could investigate interference in the administration of justice—an apparent interference, pending a final decision—committed by her herself. So she voted against the proposal that she be investigated. Is this part of the reform of justice that you were proposing to Romanian citizens during the campaign a year and a half ago?”.

I wish we could somehow ensure that we, the citizens, receive an answer to this question. I believe it would help us understand more,” Vanghele wrote on his Facebook account on Tuesday night into Wednesday.