The Nastase thriller
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/06/21/ex-romania-pm-who-shot-himself-to-have-surgery/
The former Romanian prime-minister Adrian Nastase attempted suicide after the Supreme Court in Bucharest confirmed his 2-year sentence for fraud (illegal use of power to fund his party). So the sentence was final and not subject to appeal. But instead of surrendering to the police, he shot himself in the neck. However that was some sloppy work, as he was rushed to hospital and his life was saved. He's in stable condition now.
There were TV crews waiting at his house to report about this historic event, the arrest of Nastase and his trip of shame to jail. Instead, what they reported about was him being rushed to the E.R. in an ambulance. I guess that'll be the epilogue to this 8 year long story that began in 2004. The then prime-minister Nastase (of the Social Democrats) was defeated by the Liberal-Conservative coalition on the parliamentary election. The new rulers promised to fight corruption, and indeed the new minister of justice Monica Macovei began a long and painful process of depolotization of the judicial branch of power, and the anti-corruption agency renewed its work. The EU rejoiced. But that's just the intro to the saga...
Episode I. Nastase has an attorney-general of his own.
Eight years ago the Liberal-Conservative coalition (then still in opposition) reported to the Romanian anti-corruption authorities about a probable participation of Adrian Nastase in shady deals and fraud, including abuse of power. But the investigation was soon abandoned, because the attorney-general was a close friend of Nastase. This development confirmed EU's conviction that a real fight against corruption was impossible in Romania.
The European Commission was following the whole trial with great interest, and it insisted that Romania should conduct radical reforms in its judicial system. The pressure from Brussels remained after Romania was granted EU membership in 2007. In the membership agreement there was the so called "protection clause", which included concrete punitive measures in case Romania didn't make the promised reforms by 2010. It was in those 3 years when Romania was compelled to carry out a number of institutional changes. But meanwhile, not one significant anti-corruption trial was brought to a conclusive end.
Episode II. Europe denies Romania Schengen membership.
For this reason the EC extended the monitoring period on the Romanian judicial system. The incomplete reforms had a negative effect on Romania's planned admission to the Schengen zone. Meanwhile, the constant pressure from Brussels seemed to begin bearing fruit. Earlier this year, a number of anti-corruption trials were completed, several former ministers and high-ranking state officials got effective sentences. The Nastase case was the most remarkable in this respect, given that it was the very reason the "protective clause" was invoked in the EU-membership agreement with Romania.
Episode III. Nastase is convicted, but some still see "political revenge".
Right now there's a coalition of Social-Democrats + Liberals ruling in Bucharest, but the justice system continues trying to pursue its goals. Despite all his old connections, Nastase couldn't prevent the effective sentence. Many politicians and analysts described this development as a clear sign of the independence of the Romanian judicial system. Monica Macovei (who's now an EMP) said that this is a sentence "of fundamental, symbolic importance", and a signal to all Romanians that no politician is above the law. Which is a good sign, I guess.
Meanwhile, not surprisingly, some representatives of the Romanian Social-Democrats and their Liberal partners have a different interpretation of the situation, and they're talking of a "political witch-hunt", even revenge of the Conservative head of state Traian Basescu against his opponent (the situation kind of reminds me of Ukraine, Yanukovich and Tymoshenko). There are all sorts of conspiracy theories floating around Bucharest about a plot by the "colonialist West", read: the EU (which in turn reminds me of similar theories in Greece). The ruling coalition of SD and Libs has reacted rather cautiously so far. There's a new parliamentary election coming up in fall, and the case with the corrupt former prime-minister could have a profound impact on the public's perceptions. But one thing is for sure. Romania has finally put a foot on the road to real reforms in its weakest domain, the judicial system, and there's no turning back. Now while they're at it, if the Romanians could focus on crime as well, they'd do themselves a great favor.
The former Romanian prime-minister Adrian Nastase attempted suicide after the Supreme Court in Bucharest confirmed his 2-year sentence for fraud (illegal use of power to fund his party). So the sentence was final and not subject to appeal. But instead of surrendering to the police, he shot himself in the neck. However that was some sloppy work, as he was rushed to hospital and his life was saved. He's in stable condition now.
There were TV crews waiting at his house to report about this historic event, the arrest of Nastase and his trip of shame to jail. Instead, what they reported about was him being rushed to the E.R. in an ambulance. I guess that'll be the epilogue to this 8 year long story that began in 2004. The then prime-minister Nastase (of the Social Democrats) was defeated by the Liberal-Conservative coalition on the parliamentary election. The new rulers promised to fight corruption, and indeed the new minister of justice Monica Macovei began a long and painful process of depolotization of the judicial branch of power, and the anti-corruption agency renewed its work. The EU rejoiced. But that's just the intro to the saga...
Episode I. Nastase has an attorney-general of his own.
Eight years ago the Liberal-Conservative coalition (then still in opposition) reported to the Romanian anti-corruption authorities about a probable participation of Adrian Nastase in shady deals and fraud, including abuse of power. But the investigation was soon abandoned, because the attorney-general was a close friend of Nastase. This development confirmed EU's conviction that a real fight against corruption was impossible in Romania.
The European Commission was following the whole trial with great interest, and it insisted that Romania should conduct radical reforms in its judicial system. The pressure from Brussels remained after Romania was granted EU membership in 2007. In the membership agreement there was the so called "protection clause", which included concrete punitive measures in case Romania didn't make the promised reforms by 2010. It was in those 3 years when Romania was compelled to carry out a number of institutional changes. But meanwhile, not one significant anti-corruption trial was brought to a conclusive end.
Episode II. Europe denies Romania Schengen membership.
For this reason the EC extended the monitoring period on the Romanian judicial system. The incomplete reforms had a negative effect on Romania's planned admission to the Schengen zone. Meanwhile, the constant pressure from Brussels seemed to begin bearing fruit. Earlier this year, a number of anti-corruption trials were completed, several former ministers and high-ranking state officials got effective sentences. The Nastase case was the most remarkable in this respect, given that it was the very reason the "protective clause" was invoked in the EU-membership agreement with Romania.
Episode III. Nastase is convicted, but some still see "political revenge".
Right now there's a coalition of Social-Democrats + Liberals ruling in Bucharest, but the justice system continues trying to pursue its goals. Despite all his old connections, Nastase couldn't prevent the effective sentence. Many politicians and analysts described this development as a clear sign of the independence of the Romanian judicial system. Monica Macovei (who's now an EMP) said that this is a sentence "of fundamental, symbolic importance", and a signal to all Romanians that no politician is above the law. Which is a good sign, I guess.
Meanwhile, not surprisingly, some representatives of the Romanian Social-Democrats and their Liberal partners have a different interpretation of the situation, and they're talking of a "political witch-hunt", even revenge of the Conservative head of state Traian Basescu against his opponent (the situation kind of reminds me of Ukraine, Yanukovich and Tymoshenko). There are all sorts of conspiracy theories floating around Bucharest about a plot by the "colonialist West", read: the EU (which in turn reminds me of similar theories in Greece). The ruling coalition of SD and Libs has reacted rather cautiously so far. There's a new parliamentary election coming up in fall, and the case with the corrupt former prime-minister could have a profound impact on the public's perceptions. But one thing is for sure. Romania has finally put a foot on the road to real reforms in its weakest domain, the judicial system, and there's no turning back. Now while they're at it, if the Romanians could focus on crime as well, they'd do themselves a great favor.