Romanian President Basescu Sues Businessman Dinu Patriciu

Basescu announced Saturday that he will take Dinu Patriciu and daily newspaper Gardianul to court over „lies and fabricating footage.” Basescu asked the newspaper’s management why the video hadn’t been analyzed by experts.

The first hearing in the case has been scheduled for April 21.

Romanian daily „Gardianul” recently posted online a video, filmed in 2004 during the electoral campaign for the presidential elections, showing Basescu at a rally. Later in the clip, Basescu seems to strike a child across the face with the back of his fist, for undistinguishable reasons.

Basescu denied the allegations, saying the clip was altered and stressing he has never, in his entire life, struck a child.

Furthermore, one eyewitness, brought forth by Basescu’s campaign staff, said the event never happened, there was no contact and, thus, the child was never hit.

On Monday, Basescu asked the National Criminal Expertise Institute for a professional opinion on whether the video had been altered.