Andrei Marga (in picture) has resigned as head of Romania's Cultural Institute (ICR). He officially handed in his notice with the request that his resignation come into effect immediately, according to a press release sent by ICR. In the official release, Marga reminded of the attacks against him starting the first day he was appointed, as well as of the positive changes he has implemented at the ICR, such as organizing competitions to fill in positions, a new scholarship system, and liaising with the business world, as well as with the institutes in the country.

He also complained of being faced with three impediments, an 'original' legislation which cannot be mirrored in that of any other European country, as well as the budget restrictions, and the bureaucracy of approvals. For example, the opening of ICR Nuremberg- Munich, which received the approval from the Bavarian Government in December 2012, and the approval of the German Foreign Minister in 10 days, is yet to get the green light from the Romanian authorities after seven months.

When talking about the various public attacks he faced, Marga said he never responded, as he 'was never interested in the opinion of insufficient and grumpy people, who never had any accomplishments, who end up among respectable MPs and use anything to appear in front." He also used a philosophical quote to illustrate the attacks he faced: 'I was talking to them about the infinite and they kept reminding me about the length of my pants."

The resignation was officially registered by the Senate Culture Commission on June 17. Marga has been in job since September 2012 and in his resignation statement he complained that he has suffered continuous defamation since his appointment on September 11 last year. He described the attacks he has suffered as being characterized by a primitive understanding of politics.

Marga's resignation comes after rumors in the press of his imminent resignation or dismissal and comments from Romania's PM to the effect that all is not well at the ICR. The PM also called for an investigation into the ICR's management and activities. However, Marga added that since his appointment the ICR “has changed for the better.”

During his time in charge of the Cultural Institute, Marga claims that a new cost-effectiveness, sustainable results orientated approach has been implemented, that library collections and the Romanian presence in major libraries have been rebuilt and a new scholarship has been started. He said his mandate has included many firsts for the ICR and that “no other public institution in Romania has changed so much in such a short time.” Marga also dismissed the idea that he was a puppet of the Social Liberal Union (USL), put in place to tow the USL line and keep the Institute friendly to the current government.

Andrei Marga came to the helm of the ICR in the midst of 2012's political crisis. The Senate had wrested the ICR from presidential auspices and brought it under Senate control and the previous head of the institution had resigned in protest over political interference and budget cuts. Romanian writer Horia Roman Patapievici and the rest of the leadership of the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) resigned at the beginning of August 2012 in response to the announcement of severe budget cuts for the institution.

After Patapievici's resignation, Marga was nominated by the National Liberal Party (PNL), member of the Social Liberal Union (USL). At the time, the opposition, the Democratic Liberal Party members (PDL) were against the vote, as it meant voting in the dark, without talking to the candidate.

Marga previously served as External Affairs Minister and is also a philosopher, political scientist, and politician, and former rector of the Babeş-Bolyai University in Cluj – Napoca.

editor@romania-insider.com