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Diana Șoșoacă

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Diana Șoșoacă
Official portrait, 2024
Member of the European Parliament
for Romania
Incumbent
Assumed office
16 July 2024
Senator of Romania
In office
21 December 2020 – 15 July 2024
Parliamentary groupAUR (2020–2021)
Independent (2021–2024)
ConstituencyIași County
Personal details
Born
Diana Iovanovici Șoșoacă

(1975-11-13) 13 November 1975 (age 48)
Bucharest, Romania
Political partyS.O.S. Romania (2022–present)[1]
Other political
affiliations		Romanian Nationhood Party (2020–2022)[a]
Children2
OccupationLawyer • Politician

Diana Iovanovici Șoșoacă (born 13 November 1975) is a Romanian lawyer, activist, and far-right politician.[3][4] Șoșoacă rose to prominence as an anti-vaccine activist during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for S.O.S. Romania since her election in 2024.

Șoșoacă was elected to the Senate of Romania in the 2020 election as a member of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR). She was later excluded from the party's parliamentary caucus, and joined S.O.S. Romania in 2023. She served in the Senate until her election to the European Election in 2024. Șoșoacă was prohibited from running for President of Romania in the 2024 election by the Constitutional Court.[5]

Early life and education

Diana Iovanovici Șoșoacă was born on 13 November 1975[6] in Bucharest, Romania.[7] Her paternal grandparents were from Skopje, modern North Macedonia; Iovanovici Șoșoacă has stated that "half of me is from Skopje". Her paternal grandparents and their whole family migrated to Romania. According to Iovanovici Șoșoacă, an aunt of hers was imprisoned for opposing the Romanian communist regime. Iovanovici Șoșoacă's mother is Alice Florescu Bleotu, a gynecologist and specialist in esotericism. Iovanovici Șoșoacă was married to Dumitru Silvestru Șoșoacă, who was her third husband.[8]

Details about her studies are scarce. Some sources claim she obtained a law degree from the Romanian-American University in Bucharest, and then worked for Eugen Dijmărescu [ro], Minister of Commerce in the Năstase cabinet.[9] According to her own recounting, she studied law at the University of Bucharest, at the urging of an uncle who was president of the Prahova County Tribunal.[10]

Political career

Iovanovici Șoșoacă gained notoriety in Romania in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, by protesting restriction measures on social media.[7][11][12] She went on to become one of the main anti-vaccine figures in Romania.[13][14]

Senate of Romania (2020–2024)

On 21 December 2020, she was elected to the Senate of Romania for the Iași County as a member of Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR).[6][15] She later said that she did not want to enter the Parliament of Romania, but that she was forced by other people who pressured her.[16]

On 10 February 2021, she was excluded from AUR's parliamentary group after AUR members Claudiu Târziu and Sorin Lavric proposed her exclusion for not following the party's strategy.[17] Subsequently, on 30 May 2022, she joined S.O.S. Romania, a party founded in November 2021.[1]

Iovanovici Șoșoacă also supports a Romanian withdrawal from the European Union.[18] She holds anti-immigration views. She was fined for hate speech against Syrian-born Romanian physician and politician Raed Arafat.[19][20][21]

Views on Russia

Iovanovici Șoșoacă has also been recurrently criticized in Romanian media for her ties with Russia.[22][23][24] The Russian state-controlled Sputnik news agency labeled her "the politician of the year 2021 in Romania".[25][26] Furthermore, in March 2022, in the midst of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Iovanovici Șoșoacă together with 3 other MPs met with the Russian ambassador in Bucharest to discuss a "memorandum related to the Peace of Bucharest" and Romania's "neutrality" in the context of the invasion. This meeting had not been approved for representation by the Parliament leadership and one of the MPs, PSD member Dumitru Coarnă, was expelled from his party shortly afterwards.[27][28]

Additionally, Iovanovici Șoșoacă was appreciated by Killnet (a pro-Russia hacking group which launched in 2022 a series of cyberattacks on multiple Romanian websites), after she said that Romania must not get involved in the war in Ukraine.[29] In March 2023, she proposed a law project on the Romanian Parliament for the annexation by Romania of Northern Bukovina, the Hertsa region, Budjak, Northern Maramureș and Snake Island from Ukraine, as they were "historical territories" that belong to Romania as stated in the law project.[30] In retaliation, Ukraine announced it would impose sanctions against Iovanovici Șoșoacă, labeling her as a threat to Ukrainian national security.[31]

On 21 November 2023, Diana Șoșoacă interrupted a secret session of the Parliament of Romania, during which footage of the Israel–Hamas war was presented, screaming "Palestine".[32] She later took a soft pro-Palestine stance during the conflict, stating that Romania should be neutral and mediate the conflict, that Hamas does not represent all Palestinians and that Israel is also committing war crimes.[33] During a Romania-Israel friendship day event in the Romanian Parliament, she is alleged to have shouted "Long live the Guard" in protest, in reference to the Iron Guard.[34]

Member of the European Parliament (2024–present)

In June 2024, Iovanovici Șoșoacă was elected as a member of the European Parliament. [35] She suggested that the Parliament should be "blessed" and "purified" by a priest.[36] On the first day of the Strasbourg Plenary, Iovanovici Șoșoacă wore a muzzle over her face as a sign of dissent during Ursula von der Leyen's opening speech. Later, she loudly protested when French MEP Valérie Hayer suggested that abortion rights be included in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. After interrupting Hayer's speech several times, she was escorted outside the chamber.[37][36]

2024 Romanian presidential election

Șoșoacă intended to run for President of Romania in the 2024 election. However, she was prohibited from running by the Constitutional Court, which removed her name from the list of candidates on the November 2024 ballot.[5] In response, she claimed "[t]his proves the Americans, Jews and the European Union have plotted to rig the Romanian election before it has begun".[38] The court's ruling, which was split 5–2 along party lines, was criticized by some for being politically motivated,[39] including by the National Liberal Party, which announced it was ending its governing coalition with the Social Democratic Party as a result.[40]

Controversies

2021 reporter controversy

On 12 December 2021, Iovanovici Șoșoacă was interviewed by Italian reporter Lucia Goracci who was investigating the anti-vaccine movement for Rai 1. After a very tense exchange, Iovanovici Șoșoacă locked the door of her apartment and called the police, claiming that someone had entered her office.

Once police had arrived, Iovanovici Șoșoacă insisted to have all of Goracci's footage deleted. Goracci said that she and her crew had been held captive by the senator and that she had been punched by Iovanovici Șoșoacă's husband without the police intervening. The stalemate ended after eight hours, following an intervention by the Italian embassy.[41]

False claims about the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes

In February 2023, she falsely accused the United States of causing the Turkey–Syria earthquakes with a seismic weapon.[42] Șoșoacă used Facebook to spread fake news on the matter, using footage from 2009 falsely claiming to be from 2023.[43]

Notes

  1. ^ Iovanovici Șoșoacă was elected in the Romanian Senate from the PNR on the lists of the AUR based on a protocol between the two parties, signed on 20 October 2020.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Realitatea.NET (30 May 2022). "Diana Șoșoacă, într-un nou partid, după excluderea din AUR - S-a înscris în S.O.S. România". Realitatea.NET (in Romanian). Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  2. ^ Pușcaș, Florin (10 February 2021). "Ninel Peia, președintele partidului din care face parte Diana Șoșoacă: 'Încă mai așteptăm ca AUR să revină la gânduri mai bune'". stiripesurse.ro (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 10 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Traian Basescu, teorie incendiara despre cum a luat nastere AUR si legatura cu USR: Un partid de extrema-dreapta - Dati Sosoaca poporului, Sosoaca o sa aiba". 7 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Și totuși, de unde a apărut extrema dreaptă în România? (Presa europeană)". 10 December 2020. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  5. ^ a b Jochecová, Ketrin (7 October 2024). "You're biased, Romanian far-right MEP tells top court after ban from presidential race". POLITICO. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Diana IOVANOVICI-ȘOȘOACĂ" (in Romanian). Senate of Romania. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  7. ^ a b Balaban, Georgiana (7 December 2020). "Detalii despre Diana Șoșoacă. Cine e noul senator AUR". Știrile Kanal D (in Romanian).
  8. ^ Stan, Nicu (31 January 2021). "Secretul Dianei Șoșoacă s-a aflat acum. Puțini știu asta despre ea: "Nu mă deranjează, să știți"". Playtech.ro (in Romanian).
  9. ^ Stan, Filip (6 December 2020). "Diana Șoșoacă își ascunde bine secretele. CV-ul nu îi poate fi găsit nicăieri, dar a fost consiliera unuia dintre cei mai influenți miniștri din guvernul Năstase" (in Romanian). România TV. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  10. ^ Sclavone, Ionel (29 April 2021). "Diana Șoșoacă, față în față cu Dan Bittman. Cine e omul din spatele carierei sale". Evenimentul Zilei (in Romanian). Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Cine este Diana Șoșoacă, viitor senator AUR". Digi24 (in Romanian). 7 December 2020.
  12. ^ Nazarie, Ilinca; Ionescu, Roxana (7 December 2020). "Alegeri parlamentare. Cine este Diana Șoșoacă, viitorul senator AUR la Iași?". Mediafax (in Romanian).
  13. ^ Băltărețu, Răzvan (6 October 2021). "Ce s-a ales de anti-vacciniștii din România după ce i-a lovit COVID-19 și au ajuns la spital". Vice (in Romanian).
  14. ^ Despa, Oana (8 November 2020). "Meet Diana Șoșoacă, one of Romania's most influential anti-vaxxers and also a member of parliament". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
  15. ^ "Iașul are un nou senator: Diana Iovanovici-Șoșoacă și-a ridicat certificatul de senator de Iași". glasul.info (in Romanian). 20 December 2020.
  16. ^ Chiriac, Corina (1 January 2021). "Răsturnare de situație! Diana Șoșoacă a recunoscut! Cine a obligat-o să intre în Parlament". www.capital.ro (in Romanian).
  17. ^ Costiță, George (10 February 2021). "Diana Șoșoacă, dată afară din grupul AUR. Senatoarea îl acuză pe colegul Sorin Lavric de misoginism". Digi24 (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  18. ^ "Șoșoacă cere ieșirea din UE și pușcărie pentru jurnaliști. Sputnik: "Mișcarea momentului"". Newsweek Romania. 5 October 2021.
  19. ^ "Derapaj al Dianei Șoșoacă, la tribuna Parlamentului: Arafat cu armata lui de 90.000 de afgani și tot felul de imigranți vor intra peste noi în case și ne vor vaccina obligatoriu". HotNews (in Romanian). 25 November 2021.
  20. ^ "Diana Șoșoacă: Mă gândesc la proiectul domnului Arafat, cu armata lui de 90.000 de afgani și tot felul de imigranți, care va intra peste noi în case și ne vaccina obligatoriu / Senatorul anunță "nesupunere civică" dacă se va impune vaccinarea obligatorie". news.ro (in Romanian). 25 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Senator Sosoaca fined 5,000 lei for hate speech against chief emergency manager Arafat". ACTMedia. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  22. ^ Gheja, Victor (12 June 2021). "Șoșoacă, invitată de onoare la Ambasada Rusiei, de ziua națională a Rusiei. Ea și-a cerut scuze Rusiei, in calitate de senator al României, in luna aprilie". aktual24.ro (in Romanian).
  23. ^ "Diana Șoșoacă a fost prinsă în fapt! Cu cine a fost văzută la Ambasada Rusiei". capital.ro (in Romanian). 11 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Diana Șoșoacă, după scandalul din Parlament: "Îmi voi lua inclusiv permis de port-armă. În Rusia e mai multă democrație"". Digi24 (in Romanian). 15 April 2021.
  25. ^ "Sputnik o nominalizează pe Diana Șoșoacă drept "omul politic al anului 2021" din România. Argumentele invocate". ziare.com (in Romanian).
  26. ^ "Propaganda rusă și-a ales favoriții în 2021: Șoșoacă, Teodosie și AUR, capete de afiș / În topul Sputnik au intrat și președintele Academiei Române, Ioan-Aurel Pop, Terheș sau Liviu Dragnea". G4 Media (in Romanian). 15 December 2021.
  27. ^ "Diana Șoșoacă, Dumitru Coarnă și alți parlamentari au discutat cu ambasadorul Rusiei despre neutralitate și negocieri de pace la București. Cum a reacționat PSD". Adevărul (in Romanian). 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  28. ^ "Ce i-au propus Șoșoacă și alți trei parlamentari Ambasadei Rusiei la București. Delegația nu a fost aprobată de Camera Deputaților | Document". www.antena3.ro.
  29. ^ "Hackerii pro-ruși de la Killnet o apreciază pe Diana Șoșoacă și publică o poză cu senatoarea ex-AUR: "Există în România oameni deștepți"/ Parlamentarii care au fost la Ambasada Rusiei pentru a anunța "neutralitatea" României au cerut ca Ucraina să nu fie sprijinită militar". G4 Media (in Romanian). 3 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  30. ^ "Șoșoacă vrea ca România să invadeze Ucraina. A depus un proiect de lege pentru anexarea mai multor teritorii" [Șoșoacă wants Romania to invade Ukraine. She submitted a bill for the annexation of several territories]. digi24.ro (in Romanian). 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  31. ^ "Ucraina anunță sancțiuni împotriva Dianei Șoșoacă. Reacția senatoarei: "Cum își permite?"". Digi24 (in Romanian). 24 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  32. ^ Ionescu, Andrada (21 November 2023). "Diana Șoșoacă a filmat în timpul ședinței secrete din Parlament în care au fost proiectate imaginile masacrelor Hamas din Israel. Senatoarea ar fi strigat "Palestina" în timpul evenimentului". Lumea Politică (in Romanian). Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  33. ^ Moraru, Iulia (22 November 2023). "Diana Șoșoacă neagă că a transmis live ședința secretă unde s-au prezentat imagini din Israel". Evenimentul Zilei (in Romanian). Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  34. ^ "VIDEO. Diana Șoșoacă, scandal în Parlament la ședința dedicată prieteniei cu Israel: "Rușine. Trădătorilor. Trăiască Garda!"". Stirile Pro-TV. 14 May 2024.
  35. ^ "De la Parlamentul European, Diana Şoşoacă a anunțat că va candida la președinția României: Am nevoie să stau aici câteva luni, până în decembrie, să rezolv nişte probleme. Pe urmă o să ne ocupăm de altă poziţie". G4Media.ro. 21 June 2024.
  36. ^ a b Agence France-Presse (18 July 2024). "Une eurodéputée roumaine expulsée de l'hémicycle après avoir crié et exhibé une muselière". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  37. ^ Marinescu, Florin (18 July 2024). "VIDEO Diana Șoșoacă a fost dată afară din plenul Parlamentului European / Metsola: "De câți colegi e nevoie pentru a fi escortată din sală? Cred că ați vorbit destul"". G4Media.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  38. ^ "Romania's top court removes far-right candidate from presidential race". Reuters. 6 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  39. ^ "Top Romanian Court Bans Pro-Russian Candidate From Presidential Race". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  40. ^ Ofițeru, Andreea (7 October 2024). "De ce nu a fost lăsată Diana Șoșoacă să candideze la prezidențiale: are conduită anticonstituțională". Europa Liberă România (in Romanian). Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  41. ^ "L'intervista alla senatrice No Vax, poi il "sequestro" della troupe del Tg1. Goracci: "Malmenati"". Rai News 24 (in Italian). 14 December 2021.
  42. ^ Soica, Mihai (9 February 2023). "Teoria conspirației de la tribuna Senatului României. Șoșoacă susține că Turcia a fost atacată "cu arme geologice"". Evenimentul Zilei (in Romanian). Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  43. ^ Toma, Alina (10 February 2023). "Filmul prezentat de Șoșoacă drept proba că seismele din Turcia ar fi fost create artificial: acțiunea se petrece în 2009. "Știa că e fake"". Ziare.com (in Romanian). Retrieved 9 October 2024.
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