EC Report Notes Romanian Parliament Blocked Investigation Of Fmr Minister, MP

The report, published Friday, says „the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA) has continued its good track record of investigations into high-level corruption, sending to trial a significant number of defendants, including a Member of the European Parliament, three former ministers, two former secretaries of state and a number of magistrates.”

Still, says the EC, the Parliament „voted against the search of a personal computer in an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption by a former minister,” Monica Iacob Ridzi, leaving the prosecution to use all the other evidence in this case. „In another case of alleged corruption against the same person, Parliament voted against allowing an investigation.”

„In another ongoing investigation of alleged corruption against a Member of Parliament, Parliament did not endorse the request of the prosecution for preventive arrest,” says the EC, referring to democrat liberal deputy Dan Pasat.

As regards the National Integrity Agency (ANI), the EC notes that Romania has adopted an improved law on its operation, but the Parliament has decided to significantly reduce its budget.

„In December, in the context of the general budgetary constraints, Parliament significantly reduced the budget of ANI for 2011. This budgetary reduction may impede the publication of declarations of assets and interests. This would constitute a setback for the transparency of assets and the effectiveness of ANI’s checks which rely in part on public signals,” says the report.

Former Youth Minister Monica Iacob Ridzi is charged with embezzlement of public funds.

Democrat liberal deputy Dan Pasat is being investigated on two counts of blackmail. DNA’s request to have Pasat’s immunity lifted was rejected in a 116 to 34 vote.