Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan is allegedly mocking Romanians by wearing a luxury watch, according to a false narrative spread by Anca Alexandrescu and Realitatea Plus. This narrative persisted even after Bolojan showed reporters that his watch actually costs only a few hundred Euro. As this false narrative snowballed into public space, it changed, and the watch’s supposed value jumped from "tens of thousands of Euro" to as much as €200,000.
NEWS: "Mr. Ilie, where did you get this watch worth tens of thousands of Euro? And more importantly, why isn't it specified in your financial statement? I see that second-hand it sells for merely €30k! Mrs. Dogioiu can claim it's Chinese-make all she wants, I won’t buy it! Here’s to all the 'hashtaggers' who screamed at Grindeanu and Georgescu! 😂😂😂💪💪💪 Where are they now?
Later update: I added another photo of a different model because the sycophants are saying it’s not that model. Could it be fake? 😂😂 Anyway, I see him wearing many watches in photos, none of which show up in his asset disclosure statement🤷♀️"
NARRATIVES: 1. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan mocks the Romanians he is subjecting to unprecedented austerity measures by ostentatiously displaying a luxury watch worth as much as a villa: €200,000. 2. Bolojan failed to include the watch in his asset disclosure statement, something the supporters of Bolojan and USR demanded of PSD leaders or other politicians when they displayed watches worth tens of thousands of Euro.
PURPOSE: To fuel social unrest during a harsh winter marked by high gas and electricity bills, rising prices and frozen wages or pensions. This occurs amid an unprecedented crisis in the judiciary and looming protests and strikes, starting with the one announced by teachers.
To further inflame and amplify anger and frustration among extremist voters, particularly those supporting the pro-Russian Călin Georgescu, who primarily get their information from social media.
To provide political leverage to the Prime Minister’s opposition within his own party (PNL), and especially to fuel the opposition rhetoric of PSD (Bolojan’s coalition partners) amidst an ongoing scandal regarding their potential withdrawal from the governing coalition.
WHY THE NARRATIVES ARE FALSE: First and foremost, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan held his hand up to a reporter from Realitatea Plus (which has served as a mouthpiece for the pro-Russian Călin Georgescu over the past year) specifically to demonstrate the absurdity of the situation and the fact that he wears an inexpensive watch.
Bolojan told her repeatedly to stop "peddling lies" and provided clarifications, including through the Government spokesperson, that the watch is a Timex model.
Furthermore, after initially reporting the information as fact, several news websites and Facebook pages backtracked, admitting the watch "is not worth a villa". However, they then pivoted the narrative to the Prime Minister's irritated reaction (following two days of social media claims that he owned a €200,000 watch), labeling it a "nervous breakdown".
Only Realitatea Plus continued to push the "massive price tag" narrative, failing to mention it could actually be a Timex which, according to the official website, costs a few hundred Euro at most.
Finally, after Bolojan flashed his watch straight for the cameras, no one from the opposition, the "sovereigntist" camp, or any luxury accessory experts came forward to contradict the brand or its actual cost. Even Anca Alexandrescu, who launched the fake news on social media, has since dropped the subject.
BACKGROUND: Social discontent is rising due to increased utility bills, local taxes and fees, as well as dissatisfaction among mayors from all parties whom Bolojan has told to be self-sufficient and increase local taxes.
Over the last 20 years, Ilie Bolojan has built a public image as an austere and "frugal" manager (both personally and publicly) while remaining transparent about spending and efficient in attracting European funds as a mayor and County Council President.
As Prime Minister, Bolojan appeals only to a segment of society that recognizes the need for state reform and budgetary savings following the "spending spree" of previous PSD-PNL governments during four election campaigns in a single year.
Romania has reached its highest budget deficit, risking the loss of European funds and an economic "black hole" with catastrophic consequences.
Last but not least, Bolojan has become the most "faked" politician on social media in recent times because he is attempting to impose a model of good governance perceived as more "USR-style" than "PNL-style" in the sense of being "close to PSD".
Anca Alexandrescu, who promoted the false narrative, is one of the most controversial figures in the Romanian public sphere. While she describes herself as a "journalist", she has served as a consultant for several high-ranking PSD officials, including Prime Ministers Viorica Dăncilă, Victor Ponta, Liviu Dragnea and Adrian Năstase, as well as Sorin Oprescu. The latter three have faced serious legal issues. Alexandrescu also ran for the position of Bucharest Mayor General, adopting a sovereignist discourse and spreading numerous false narratives during the election campaign. At Realitatea TV, a station owned by businessman Maricel Păcuraru (convicted of corruption), Alexandrescu intensely promoted the self-styled sovereignist Călin Georgescu, who is also currently facing a criminal investigation. Her performance at Realitatea has led to sanctions from the National Audiovisual Council (CNA) for discrimination and disinformation.
