A local council meeting in Vidra, Ilfov County, Romania, descended into violence on Thursday, leaving a council member hospitalized with a fractured face. Constantin Stoian, a councilor with the AUR (Alliance for the Union of Romanians) party, alleges he was assaulted by Constantin Marinescu, a councilor from the PSD (Social Democratic Party), and Gabriel Dinică, the former mayor of Vidra affiliated with the PNL (National Liberal Party). The incident has sparked condemnation from AUR, who accuse the PSD-PNL coalition of resorting to intimidation and violence to silence dissent.
Stoian claims the attack stemmed from his public statements regarding alleged corruption within the Vidra mayor’s office. According to Stoian, Dinică initiated the confrontation with a hostile question – “Who are you to talk about these things?” – before Marinescu allegedly struck him from behind while Dinică continued the assault. He asserts the attack was premeditated and motivated by his efforts to expose questionable dealings involving local assets. The councilor was subsequently taken to Bagdasar-Arseni Emergency Hospital in Bucharest, where he was diagnosed with a facial fracture and is expected to be transferred to the Prof. Dr. Dan Theodorescu Clinical Hospital of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
The alleged assault occurred during a regular council meeting on March 5th. Lucian Matei, another AUR councilor and a witness to the incident, corroborated Stoian’s account, stating that both Marinescu and Dinică initiated the physical attack. Matei told HotNews that Stoian had recently posted a TikTok video highlighting concerns about the state of buildings owned by the commune, including a cooperative and a local community center, which reportedly angered the alleged aggressors. He too stated this wasn’t the first instance of intimidation directed towards him and Stoian.
A Dismissive Response from the Accused
When contacted by HotNews, Constantin Marinescu, the PSD councilor accused of involvement in the assault, offered a terse response. He stated, “It’s his problem. Everyone must take responsibility for their own actions.” He declined to elaborate further, adding, “So, I have nothing to discuss. Each body does its duty, right? I have nothing to comment on.” Marinescu concluded by saying, “Leave him, I have nothing to discuss with this character who is… of low standing.”
AUR Alleges a Pattern of Intimidation
AUR has issued a statement strongly condemning the attack, characterizing it as a deliberate act of violence intended to silence Stoian’s criticism of alleged corruption. The party claims the incident is part of a broader pattern of intimidation tactics employed by the PSD-PNL coalition in Vidra. According to AUR, the conflict centers around Stoian’s public disclosure of alleged irregularities in the handling of community assets, specifically the long-term lease of a cultural center to Gabriel Dinică for 49 years and the sale of a former cooperative building to Marinescu for approximately 60,000 euros.
“It is unacceptable for an elected official to end up in the hospital for having the courage to speak about how the assets of a community are managed,” the AUR statement reads. “Instead of a civilized debate, representatives of the PSD-PNL political network again choose intimidation and violence.”
Stoian himself has publicly accused a “PSD-PNL mafia” of operating in the locality, claiming he has been repeatedly threatened by their associates. He shared a video on his Facebook page showing visible injuries – blood on his face and a prominent swelling – accompanied by a statement alleging that “if you share the truth, the PSD-PNL mafia tries to kill you.”
Police in Ilfov County have reportedly been notified and are investigating the incident. HotNews has requested details from the Ilfov police department and will publish them as they become available. The incident raises questions about the climate of political discourse in Vidra and the potential for intimidation to stifle legitimate scrutiny of local governance.
This incident adds to growing concerns about political violence and intimidation in Romania. While the full extent of the alleged corruption and the motives behind the attack remain under investigation, the case highlights the risks faced by those who challenge the status quo in local politics.
The Ilfov County Police are continuing their investigation into the alleged assault. Further updates will be provided as they become available. Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact local authorities.
