RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Resounding sentences

The second biggest high-level corruption case in Romania, after that involving the former Social Democratic PM Adrian Nastase, who is now in prison, is that of the powerful businessman Dan Voiculescu, the founder of the Conservative Party.

Resounding sentences
Resounding sentences

, 11.08.2014, 13:34

Dan Voiculescu’s problems with the law started in 2008 and ended now in 2014 with his sentencing to 10 years in prison for money laundering in the famous file regarding the privatization of the Institute of Food Research. With the complicity of several other people, who were also sent to prison, Voiculescu bought the Institute, located in a select residential area of Bucharest, for a little over 100 thousand euros, at a time when the land surrounding the building was worth almost 8 million euros. Prosecutors estimated the damage at 60 million euros, which is the real value of the land at the moment when Voiculescu bought the institute.



To recuperate the damage the Romanian state decided to seize Voiculescu’s assets, including the building from where the mogul’s TV stations, Antena 1 and Antena 3, are broadcasting. If Antena 1 is a general station, Antena 3 is a news station turned into an instrument of propaganda in favour of the Conservative Party and its circumstantial political allies, and especially into a weapon targeted at its adversaries. It is well known that Voiculescu’s greatest enemy and the main target of his TV stations’ attacks has been President Traian Basescu, whom he accuses of being behind his indictment and sentencing.



Left wing politicians, close to Voiculescu and his party, promised to fight for the freedom of expression of the journalists working for Antena 3, implying that this is threatened by the court’s verdict. However, the independent associations of journalists and unbiased commentators pointed out that there is no court verdict that endangers the activity of the journalists working for Voiculescu’s TV stations, trying to do away with any manipulation of the public opinion.



But who is Dan Voiculescu, besides the image he created for himself, as the victim of the Basescu regime? He is a proven collaborator with the former political police of the Communist regime, the Securitate, who allegedly took hold of the accounts of the Ceausescus.



The epitome of the mogul who made a huge fortune in the post-Communist years, Voiculescu is actually one of the characters in the documentary entitled “Kapitalism, our secret recipe” made by Alexandru Solomon 20 years after the fall of the Communist dictatorship. In the film, the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu returns after 2 decades and realizes, quite surprised, that the pillars of the new capitalist society are actually the former pillars of the Communist era, who fueled a network of connections and a corrupt system that drained the country of all its resources. Ironically, three of the characters in the documentary, among whom Voiculescu, are now imprisoned on corruption charges.

Mircea Fechet (Photo: gov.ro)
Today in the News Friday, 25 April 2025

The Environment Fund Administration gets record budget

The Environment Fund Administration this year received from the government a record budget for investments, worth over 3.2 billion euros. The money...

The Environment Fund Administration gets record budget
Minister of Education and research, Daniel David
Today in the News Friday, 25 April 2025

Measures for the Romanian education

During Thursday’s meeting, the Romanian government discussed several laws related to education. They established the legal framework for...

Measures for the Romanian education
Photo: pixabay.com
Today in the News Thursday, 24 April 2025

A new law on the magistrates’ pensions

There are several occupational categories in Romania whose employees are usually retiring under the age of 50 and whose pensions aren’t exclusively...

A new law on the magistrates’ pensions
Foto: Mediamodifier / pixabay.com
Today in the News Thursday, 24 April 2025

Downward forecast revision from the World Bank

According to its latest report, the World Bank expects growth in developing economies in Europe and Central Asia to slow down to 2.5% in 2025-2026...

Downward forecast revision from the World Bank
Today in the News Wednesday, 23 April 2025

From budget deficit to governmental debt

  The Romanian finance ministry reiterates Romania’s commitment to meet the 7% of GDP deficit target at the end of the year, and promises...

From budget deficit to governmental debt
Today in the News Wednesday, 23 April 2025

Romanian – German Friendship Day

A year ago, former Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, himself an ethnic German from Transylvania, promulgated the Law establishing April 21 as...

Romanian – German Friendship Day
Today in the News Tuesday, 22 April 2025

Romania reacts to the Pope’s Death

Pope Francis passed away on Monday, the second day of Easter, after 12 years of pontificate, and the emotion caused by his disappearance crossed the...

Romania reacts to the Pope’s Death
Today in the News Thursday, 17 April 2025

Christians before Easter

The Orthodox Christians in Romania are preparing to celebrate Easter – the feast of light and joy, considered the greatest celebration of...

Christians before Easter

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