RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Manifestations pro and against the National Anti-Corruption Directorate

There is no other institution in Romania to cause so much passion on the political scene, in the media and society at large like the National Anti-Corruption Directorate.

Manifestations pro and against the National Anti-Corruption Directorate
Manifestations pro and against the National Anti-Corruption Directorate

, 19.02.2018, 13:30

For many people, the investigators of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) are genuine heroes. Thanks to their work, in the past years, people could see the sentencing of a former prime minister, the investigation and prosecution of an acting prime minister, the arrest of a judge with the Constitutional Court, of the general mayor of Bucharest and of the mayors of Bucharest’s 6 sectors. Tens of former members of the Government and Parliament, city mayors, presidents of county councils and prefects from both the right and left of the political spectrum, in power or in opposition, were the protagonists of corruption cases investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate.



That is why hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in the past year, in Bucharest, across Romania and in the Diaspora because they suspected that the current governing majority made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats were trying to subordinate magistrates and stop the anti-corruption fight through their attempt to modify the justice laws and the criminal codes. Nevertheless, not everybody sees the National Anti-Corruption Directorate prosecutors as heroes. There are people who are against them, and this past weekend scores of them gathered in front of the headquarters of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate and of the Presidency, asking for the resignation of the head of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, Laura Codruta Kovesi. They also accused President Klaus Iohannis of adopting a passive attitude towards the prosecutors’ abuses. What triggered these latest protests against the National Anti-Corruption Directorate was the scandal at the DNA branch in Prahova county.



The former president of the Prahova county council, Mircea Cosma, who held that position for more than a decade, and his son, Vlad Cosma, were sentenced, in a lower court, to 8 years and 5 years in prison respectively, in a corruption case investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate. Andreea Cosma, the daughter of Mircea Cosma, a Social Democrat MP herself, has also been investigated by the anti-corruption prosecutors. Vlad Cosma accused the investigators of having used him to fabricate evidence against other members of the Social Democratic Party, namely the former PM Victor Ponta and a former MP from Prahova, Sebastian Ghita, who subsequently fled to neighboring Serbia. The head of the DNA categorically rejected accusations that her subordinates had resorted to illegal practices. In turn, President Iohannis reiterated his confidence in the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, which, according to him, has come under the “desperate, deplorable and unconvincing” attempts of a bunch of “offenders” to denigrate it.



Those who protested against the DNA’s actions compared these actions with the practices of the former political police, the Securitate, and with the Fascist practices. The gendarmes were called to intervene between the anti-DNA protesters and the Directorate’s supporters who organized, at the same time, a counter protest, to show their opposition to the modification of the justice laws. Commentators say the atmosphere is set to get heated again, both on the political scene and in the street, after, on Thursday, the justice minister Tudorel Toader is expected to present in Parliament the assessment of the activity of General Prosecutor’s Office, of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate and of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism.

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
Elections in Moldova (Photo: Radio Chișinău)
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
Foto: Baza 71 Aeriană / MApn
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
Today in the News Monday, 28 October 2024

Romania sees rising public debt levels

Government debt rose in July to over 876 billion lei (that’s around 175 billion euros), from 860 billion lei in the previous month, according to...

Romania sees rising public debt levels
Today in the News Monday, 28 October 2024

Presidential debate in the Republic of Moldova

An unusual electoral debate, in form, but predictable in content, had as protagonists, on Sunday, the two remaining candidates in the presidential...

Presidential debate in the Republic of Moldova

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