Romanian lawmakers on Tuesday voted against a bill
aiming to counter the pernicious effects of witchcraft, a text
which had angered many fortune-tellers ans clairvoyants.
"I am very disappointed, the bill was meant to prevent people
from being deceived by so-called witches," Liberal-Democrat MP Alin
Popoviciu, who initiated the bill, told AFP.
Under the text, fortune-tellers and clairvoyants were to be
licensed, pay taxes and set up professional associations.
"The bill angered many witches who threatened to cast a spell in
order to make it fail. It seems they have succeeded," Popoviciu
added.
But the government too seems to have sided with the witches as
it called on MPs to vote against the bill, fearing it would "make
witchcraft legitimate".
Popoviciu however said he would not give up on his idea and
would try to find another way to get it passed by parliament.