RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Corruption and justice in Romania

The Romanian politicians’ murky past continues to catch up with them. Five years after a huge scandal broke, that involved the then youth and sports minister Monica Iacob Rizdzi, and when no one expected the Romanian judiciary to come to the end of it, a surprising ruling was made public on Monday. Monica Iacob Ridzi was sentenced to five years in prison for abuse of office. Two collaborators of former minister Ridzi were also sentenced to prison while nine others received suspended sentences.

Corruption and justice in Romania
Corruption and justice in Romania

, 28.01.2014, 13:18



The ruling is not yet final and can be appealed, although, according to experts, it is rather unlikely for these rulings to be changed by any other panel. Ridzi was found guilty of illegally handing out contracts to private firms and for having spent huge amounts of money to organize Youth Day on May 2, 2009. Prosecutors said she had also tried to erase evidence of her wrongdoing from her computer at the ministry’s office.



At a time when tens of former or incumbent ministers, MPs, prefects and mayors from either the ruling parties or the opposition are being prosecuted and convicted, the Ridzi case may seem nothing out the ordinary. The case has, however, a few elements that prove it is an uncommon one. It is the first time when a woman politician receives such a tough sentence. Ridzi’s conviction is also a victory of the media, given that the whole scandal had started after an investigation of the journalists with the Gazeta Sporturilor daily newspaper. Then there is also the fact that Ridzi’s conviction dismisses speculations that the Judiciary is acting selectively and on political command, targeting mainly President Traian Basescu’s opponents.



Currently an MP from the Dan Diaconescu Party of the People, Monica Iacob Ridzi was a minister in the Liberal Democrat government headed by Emil Boc, who, at the time, was believed to follow President Basescu’s orders. Moreover, on the 2009 Youth Day, said to have been turned into a day of election campaign, Ridzi appeared in public in the company of the president’s younger daughter, Elena Basescu. The latter was at the time running for a seat in the European Parliament, which she eventually won. Irrespective of political speculations or the media’s belief that the Romanian Judiciary is under political control, another two ministers received final court rulings, also for abuse of office.



Tudor Chiuariu, a member of the ruling National Liberal Party received a suspended sentence of 3 years and 6 months in jail, while Zsolt Nagy, a member of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania also got a suspended 4-year prison sentence. According to prosecutors, the two former officials Ok-ed and participated in the transfer of a building in downtown Bucharest, from the property of the Romanian Post into private hands. The transfer, backed by a government decision, was made through a series of false documents, at a price by 3.6 million Euros lower than its real price.



Maia Sandu (Photo: presedinte.md)
Today in the News Monday, 04 November 2024

Moldova stays on path to Europe

Moldova’s pro-European president Maia Sandu won a new  4-year term in Sunday’s second round run-off, with over 55% of the votes cast in the...

Moldova stays on path to Europe
The head of the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP), Toni Grebla
Today in the News Monday, 04 November 2024

Election campaigns in Romania

    The campaign for the general election in Romania started last week, at midnight on Thursday, and will end on 30 November. During this...

Election campaigns in Romania
November 1 - National Radio Day
Today in the News Friday, 01 November 2024

Radio Romania 96

Radio Romania has celebrated 96 years since it first entered the listeners houses from Romania and abroad. On November 1 1928 the Romanians were able...

Radio Romania 96
(Photo: pixabay@Engin_Akyurt)
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Romanians’ concerns

Romanians and Austrians are the most satisfied with their lives among the inhabitants of Central and Eastern Europe, but the former are significantly...

Romanians’ concerns
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Republic of Moldova, crucial final

On November 3, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova have to choose, for the position of head of state, between the pro-European Maia Sandu, the...

Republic of Moldova, crucial final
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

Drones, a security issue

The Romanian Ministry of National Defense has placed under decisional transparency a bill that improves airspace security measures. The bill, which...

Drones, a security issue
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

The Fugitive Law is constitutional

The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) has rejected the referral of the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ) in relation to the so-called...

The Fugitive Law is constitutional
Today in the News Tuesday, 29 October 2024

Challenges of an ageing population

Romanians are getting fewer and older.   The population of Romania in mid-2024 was 21,779,000, down 1% compared to June 1, 2023. According to...

Challenges of an ageing population

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company