B’nai B’rith International President Robert Spitzer and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the United States to press Romania to enact legislation passed by the Romanian parliament in June 2025 that would combat anti-Semitism, Holocaust denial and the glorification of fascism. The letter states that Romanian President Nicușor Dan’s decision to block the law’s enactment risks emboldening extremists and undermining the country’s democratic credibility. Read the letter below, or in PDF format here.

Dear Mr. Secretary:

On behalf of B’nai B’rith International’s members and supporters across the United States and around the globe, we write to express our concern over Romanian President Nicusor Dan’s decision to block the enactment of a law that would respond to anti-Semitism, extremism, Holocaust denial, and the rehabilitation of fascist war criminals.

The legislation, passed by the Romanian parliament in June 2025, would strengthen an existing law aimed at combating anti-Semitism and fascism. Romania’s Constitutional Court has unanimously dismissed President Dan’s objections to the new legislation on the grounds of supposed ambiguity. The Court ruled that the bill, on the contrary, is “clear, precise, and predictable.” Nonetheless, President Dan has referred it back to the Parliament for review.

President Dan has minimized the legislation, questioning the need to combat neo-Nazi glorification and other disturbing trends in Romanian society. His rhetoric has echoed that of extremist political parties in Romania. This emboldens hate groups, threatens Romania’s democratic credibility, and represents a disturbing regression from the earlier advancements Romania made, with its Wiesel Commission on the Holocaust in Romania and the Wiesel Institute on Holocaust research.

Romania in 2009 placed a memorial to Holocaust victims in central Bucharest, but the country has recently seen a nationwide spike in anti-Semitic polemics and Holocaust denial; attacks on Jewish communities and Holocaust survivors; and the promotion of war criminals and neo-Nazi symbols. Progress on the planned Museum of Romanian Jewry and the Holocaust in Romania has stalled, suggesting a lack of willingness to face the past and accept historical responsibility.

Mr. Secretary, we ask that the State Department insist that Romania enact this law. Romania must uphold democratic standards and prevent a return to the anti-Semitism and fascist appeals of Europe’s darkest chapter.

Respectfully,

Robert B. Spitzer, President                          Daniel S. Mariaschin, CEO