Witches and fortune tellers in Romania could soon face fines or a spell in prison if their predictions fail

This article is more than 9 years old

This article is more than 9 years old

There's more bad news in the cards for Romania's beleaguered witches. A month after authorities began taxing them for their trade, the country's soothsayers are cursing a new bill that threatens fines or even prison if their predictions do not come true.

The witches say they should not be blamed for the failure of their tools. "They can't condemn witches, they should condemn the cards," said Queen witch Bratara Buzea.

Superstition is a serious matter in the land of Dracula, and officials have turned to witches to help the recession-hit country collect more money and crack down on tax evasion.

In January officials changed labour laws to officially recognise the centuries-old practice as a taxable profession, prompting angry witches to dump poisonous mandrake into the Danube in an attempt to put a hex on the government.

The new draft bill, passed in the Senate last week, must be approved by a financial and labour committee and the Chamber of Deputies, the other house of parliament.

Bratara called the proposed bill overblown. "I will fight until my last breath for this not to be passed," she said.

She added that members of the public who visit witches for predictions do not provide their real identities, date of birth or other personal details, which could skew a seer's results. "What about when the client gives false details about themselves? Surely we can't be blamed for that," she said.

The bill would also require witches to have a permit, to provide their customers with receipts and bar them from practising near schools and churches.