President Iohannis withdraws decorations from officials indicted for crimes
Romanias president Klaus Iohannis has signed a decree to withdraw decorations from former officials indicted for crimes
Ştefan Stoica, 12.12.2019, 14:01
The presidential administration in Bucharest
has announced a list of people who had their decorations withdrawn for penal
convictions. Among the decorations and medals withdrawn are the Order of the
Star of Romania in ranks of Grand Cross, Grand officer or the National Order of
Faithful Service.
President Iohannis had previously
announced the move, which is considered natural in the process of curbing
corruption, but which has attracted a lot of heat from his critics, mainly
coming from the left wing political spectrum. The list includes former
ministers, such as Miron Mitrea or Adrian Severin who was also an MEP as well
as Dan Voiculescu.
The list also comprises Gheorghe
Mencinicopschi, a reputed scientist who is currently serving a prison sentence
for abuse of office and forgery. All those included in the list have served or
are presently serving prison sentences on corruption charges. One of those
affected by the new measure, the country’s former Prime Minister Adrian Nastase
had a vehement reaction to the president’s decision.
A recipient of two prison sentences
for blackmail and bribery, the former Prime Minister was awarded the order of
the Star of Romania in rank of Grand Cross in 2002. According to Nastase, the
President wants to rewrite history at the suggestion of, quote, ‘some migratory
birds and ideological Taliban’ end of quote.
The former Prime Minister is
convinced that the visa waivers to benefit the Romanians, the NATO and EU
integration efforts, the country’s modernization and economic growth, all
assets obtained during his term in office between 2001 and 2004 cannot be
erased from history text books, neither can they be compared with the
‘insignificant activity of president Iohannis during his mandate’.
The former PSD leader has
reiterated the rusty and ungrounded explanation of his indictment, which was
done out of purely political reasons. President Iohannis’ latest move is not
singular, three years ago he withdrew the Star of Romanian Order from Lazlo
Tokes, a former reformed pastor who played a major role in the beginning the
anti-communist revolution of 1989, for his chauvinist speeches.
Tokes had suggested that Hungary
should have assumed the status of protector of the Hungarian minority in
Transylvania. The High Court of Cassation and Justice in Romania ruled in
favour of president Iohannis and rejected pastor Tokes’ appeal.
(translated by bill)
