A group of young people protested Thursday evening (March 21, 2013) in front of Romania’s pavilion at the Salon du Livre book show in Paris, saying they are fighting against “politicizing the Romanian Cultural Institute” (ICR) - the organizer of the Romanian stand at the fair. The protestors were wearing masks with faces of the Romanian writers Gabriel Liiceanu, Mircea Cartarescu, Neagu Djuvara and Andrei Plesu - the writers who chose not to attend the event this year in protest against ICR’s management.

Romanian Serge Celibidache, son of the well-known Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache, and other members of the Romanian community in Paris were among those who said they felt offended by the protestors’ behavior, according to ICR.

Romania is the guest of honor at this year’s edition of Salon du Livre. Over 1,000 people visited the Romanian stand in the opening day of the book show, according to estimations made by the ICR, which called the event a 'success for Romanian culture'. The French President Francois Hollande also visited Romania’s stand, shortly after the protest.

Important writers, critics, poets, essayists and historians represented the Romanian literature and culture at the 33rd annual book show in the French capital. According to ICR, the institution has assigned a budget of some EUR 620,000 for Romania’s appearance at this year’s Salon du Livre edition.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Salon du livre website)