Dominic Fritz questions Romanian state over Pașca case
Dominic Fritz, USR President, criticizes Romania's past handling of vulnerable individuals. Cites personal experiences from 2003-2004 in Timișoara. Raises concerns over 411 people from Bihor in Pașca case. Highlights systemic issues in reintegrating children.

Dominic Fritz, the president of the Save Romania Union (USR), has issued a strongly personal critique regarding the Romanian state's treatment of vulnerable individuals in the context of the Pașca case. He highlighted the historical neglect by the state, which he believes has led to the disappearance of 411 people from Bihor, questioning their current well-being.
Fritz's concerns are rooted in his firsthand experiences from 2003 to 2004, when he volunteered at a children's home in Timișoara. This period left a lasting impression on him, particularly as he witnessed the state's efforts to reduce the number of institutionalized children in preparation for Romania's accession to the European Union.
The Romanian government had set a goal to transform orphanages into 'family homes' or close them entirely. While the objectives were aligned with European standards, Fritz argues that the implementation was deeply flawed, stating, "The objective was well-conceived, standards European. Implementation destroyed thousands of lives."
As part of this initiative, the state began a bureaucratic process to reintegrate children with their biological families, many of whom had abandoned them at birth. Police located biological parents for children aged 9 to 12, who often accepted them back in exchange for financial incentives.
Fritz observed that many of these children were sent to isolated villages in regions such as Gorj, Bacău, and Suceava, where families were ill-prepared to handle pre-adolescent children. He described the situation as the beginning of a "calvary" for these children.
Upon his return to Romania, Fritz visited some of the reintegrated children and found troubling situations. A girl, referred to as L., spoke only in whispers over the phone, a stark contrast to her usual cheerful demeanor. Another child, a disabled boy named I., was always asleep when his parents were contacted.
The Child Protection authorities failed to conduct the promised monitoring visits, leaving many children longing to return to their familiar life in Timișoara. Their expressions revealed fear, signs of abuse, and extreme poverty. One girl, in an attempt to seek help, went to the village police, only to be returned home beaten and hospitalized.
Fritz recounted learning of these stories years later from adults who remained traumatized by what he describes as a double abandonment. He attended the funeral of a young man who died in a 'forest accident' and learned of a young woman who was exploited in Germany through the 'lover boy' method.
Children who expressed a desire to return to Timișoara were told by the state that they were in another county, highlighting a system that prioritized administrative boundaries over the children's emotional needs. One boy managed to return only after Spanish authorities intervened.
In 2007 and 2008, Fritz sought information from the Directorate for Social Assistance and Child Protection (DGASPC) regarding the monitoring visits. Few agencies responded, reinforcing his distrust of state decisions concerning vulnerable individuals. He expressed this sentiment, saying, "Since then, I don't trust the Romanian state claiming to know best for your life."
The recent revelation that 411 people in Bihor were "made to disappear" by the Romanian state in the Pașca case has prompted Fritz to question whether these individuals are better off today. His experiences continue to fuel his skepticism about the state's capacity to protect its most vulnerable citizens.
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