Romanian writer Horia Roman Patapievici and the rest of the leadership of the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) will resign, in response to the announcement of severe budget cuts for the institution. Romania's Finance Ministry announced ICR its budget will be cut by some EUR 3.1 million, more than a third. The Ministry asked ICR to stay within the around EUR 6.1 million budget this year, as approved at end 2011. The ICR has however spent or committed to spend some EUR 6.9 million this year, so in order to comply with the recent request, it should work on a negative balance until the end of the year, with no budget at all.

On top of it all, the country's Constitutional Court on Tuesday (July 31) ruled constitutional the ordinance number 27/ 2012, which moves ICR under the Senate supervision and changes its mission, making it responsible for the Romanian national identity abroad. When the ordinance was issued, the leadership of ICR said it would step down if the ordinance was deemed constitutional. By law, the Senate will name the executive directors of ICR and its board.

editor@romania-insider.com

(photo source: ICR)