Scandal!
The mayor of Constanta, Radu Mazare – who is not, we should point out, our favourite Romanian politician by any means, and we would usually be the last people to jump to his defence – has been in the news the past couple of days following his somewhat controversial appearance on a catwalk at the weekend. Controversial because Mazare was wearing a German World War II general’s uniform:
Not a Nazi
Now, was Mazare’s bizarre attire in bad taste? Almost certainly. Was it ill-advised? Definitely. Did he look just a bit ridiculous? Probably. Was it xenophobic, racist behaviour? No.
Mazare in fact went to great lengths to de-Nazify the uniform (which was made in Germany by a company that provides uniforms to the film industry). There were no visible swastikas; Mazare had removed them. What’s more, Mazare wore the uniform during a fashion show: a piece of art. Theatre, if you like. Had he been at a political rally then there may have been issues to raise.
In fact, what this affair once again highlights is the depressing state of Romanian journalism (especially television journalism). Coming a week after a brilliant print journalist of the old school, Catalin Tolontan, brought down a corrupt minister by doing some actual reporting, it’s back to square one.
If the press wants to have a go at Mazare, it should go to Constanta and report on how he runs the city. He might be doing a good job there, then again he might not. As long as his attire is the only subject of debate however, we will never know.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I believe you grace too much this scumbag with your considerations. Anyone brandishing symbols, uniforms, you name it, in public places reminding the perpetrators of the most abominable crimes in modern history, which are the WWII German military organisations, including I must remind you the Wehrmacht, must be locked up and heavily punished. I do hope that public opinion abroad (the Romanian one is hopeless due to its sheer ignorance of history and low education level) will have an effect on this personage from Constanta.
That kind of artefact, the uniform, should be allowed only in films sets or strictly private parties. Mazare is a true representative of the Romanian electorate, its public face, barrel bottom cultural level and a symbol of its aspirations of most Romanians. I strongly believe that Romania was too early admitted into the EU and now is difficult to contain this population aspiring to the coarsest western ideals.
As I understand things, the man is to all intents and purposes a nasty piece of work who together with the boss of the county council rule the county and city by little less than fear. My point is that because the press is scared of him they never write about his business affairs or such like. No, they go for the easy target: what he wears.
Nicusor Constantinescu rulz
Mazare is the best he don’t give a shit on Basescu or Emil Boc.
And this is the only thing they could find against him because he’s too smart and too smecher to find anything related to his activity as a mayor