RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Parliament’s investigative committee to start its activity

Set up last week, Parliaments committee charged with investigating the presidential election of 2009, when Traian Basescu won a second term in office, will commence its activity on Monday.

Parliament’s investigative committee to start its activity
Parliament’s investigative committee to start its activity

, 18.05.2017, 14:10

The committee set up to investigate the second round of the presidential election of 2009 on Monday will start its public hearings. The first to appear before the committee will be journalist and political advisor Dan Andronic, the very man who made the controversial revelations regarding the political influence channeled in the election campaign, thus determining the Prosecutor’s Office and Parliament to start the investigation.



Andronic said that leading officials within important state institutions, such as the chief of the Anti-Corruption Directorate, Laura Codruta Kovesi, at the time the General Prosecutor, the former Intelligence chief George Cristian Maior and his deputy, Florian Coldea, met for a private party at the residence of a political leader on the election night. Traian Basescu won his second term with a narrow margin compared to his opponent, Mircea Geoana, at the time, the head of the Social-Democratic Party.



Andronic implied that this group of people coordinated a large-scale operation to swing the presidential vote in favour of Traian Basescu. After Andronic’s hearing, the committee will question the leadership of the Election Authority at the time, Mircea Geoana and his election campaign team, the Minister of the Interior at the time and the head of the Special Telecommunications Service.



The committee chairman, Social-Democrat Senator Mihai Fifor, says all the people involved in the 2009 election will be heard: “My colleagues and I considered it was natural to start this series of hearings with the very people who signaled the irregularities surrounding this vote. It was never our intention to make this issue political, it’s not about that. We’re trying to keep an objective approach. We will also invite Mr. Basescu for hearings, as well as those who everyone watched on TV and who have a lot to tell us, so we’re trying to remain unbiased so that our activity should be fair and devoid of any vengeful spirit”.



Under the new regulatory framework, all people who’ve received a subpoena must turn up for their deposition, irrespective of office. Those who have expressed their reluctance regarding the usefulness of the investigation, which many see as redundant given that the Prosecutor’s office is also conducting its own investigation into this matter, claim its real stake is the hearing of Laura Codruta Kovesi, the anti-corruption chief, who is very disliked amongst Social-Democrats. The second round of the presidential vote of 2009 generated a lot of controversy, fuelled by the small difference in the final result, accounting for a few tens of thousands of votes, the voting polls where a large number of people voted on special lists and eye-witness accounts concerning suspicion looming over the voting process abroad. Prosecutors have opened an investigation on charges of abuse of office and forgery of deeds and election records.

Meeting the Romanian PM Marcel Ciolacu with his British counterpart, Keir Starmer (foto: gov.ro)
Today in the News Thursday, 14 November 2024

The Romanian PM pays visit to London

The Romanian Prime Minister made a working visit to the UK.   On Tuesday and Wednesday, Marcel Ciolacu paid the first visit by a Romanian prime...

The Romanian PM pays visit to London
Roxana Mînzatu (photo: gov.ro)
Today in the News Wednesday, 13 November 2024

 Roxana Mînzatu, heard by MEPs   

European MPs heard Roxana Mînzatu, Romania’s candidate for Vice-President for the People, Skills and Preparedness portfolio.   ʺIt was...

 Roxana Mînzatu, heard by MEPs   
Gen. Gheorghita Vlad Photo: facebook.com/sef.smap
Today in the News Wednesday, 13 November 2024

Peace, no longer a certainty in Europe

    Less than 2 weeks from now, Romania will hold the first round of its presidential election, and the campaign remains low-key, limited...

Peace, no longer a certainty in Europe
EP and local elections in Romania on June 9 (Photo credits: AEP)
Today in the News Tuesday, 12 November 2024

Preparations for the elections abroad

  After the local and European parliamentary elections, held simultaneously on June 9, Romanians are preparing for an election marathon. They will...

Preparations for the elections abroad
Today in the News Tuesday, 12 November 2024

Growing trade deficit

The trade balance deficit recorded in Romania in the first nine months of the current year increased by 15%, as compared to the same period of 2023,...

Growing trade deficit
Today in the News Monday, 11 November 2024

Central Bank Report on Inflation

The latest report on inflation was approved at the end of last week by the Board of Directors of the National Bank of Romania. According to the...

Central Bank Report on Inflation
Today in the News Friday, 08 November 2024

EPC meeting in Budapest

European leaders met in Budapest to discuss security challenges facing Europe, with an emphasis on the situation in Ukraine, as well as the issues of...

EPC meeting in Budapest
Today in the News Friday, 08 November 2024

Romania, from wages to youth unemployment

Data from the Statistical Office of the European Union – Eurostat show that the adjusted average annual full-time salary of Romanians is the fourth...

Romania, from wages to youth unemployment

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