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Experts: Romania uses nationalism in anti-corruption fight

Abbazorkzog

Abbazorkzog

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Experts: Romania uses nationalism in anti-corruption fight
Romania_Protests_70632.jpg-373a2.jpg

A anti-government protester holds a poster depicting the leader of the ruling Social Democratic party Liviu Dragnea in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. Romania’s president told lawmakers Tuesday the country is in a “fully-fledged” political crisis, after hundreds of thousands demonstrated against a government measure that would weaken the country’s anti-corruption drive.​

Romania’s government, in trying to soften anti-corruption laws, is fanning the flames of nationalism by criticizing the presence of foreigners at protests, according to experts and politicians.

Officials also have been challenging the role of the European Union in the corruption fight, and suggesting it is time to put Romania first.

Cristian Parvulecsu, dean of the National School of Political Studies and Public Administration, said some members of Romania’s ruling Social Democratic Party are promoting values favored by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, known for his anti-refugee stance.

A week before the protests broke out, powerful Social Democratic Party chairman Liviu Dragnea, who faces corruption charges that block his route to becoming prime minister, told Romanian television that financial checks should be carried out on NGOs operating in Romania because some that receive public money may not be operating lawfully.

He singled out philanthropist and financier George Soros, who has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to promote democracy in the former Soviet bloc, for criticism.​


So, this has been going on while DP was down. Could Romania be the next Ukraine, except in reverse it would seem...
 
Abbazorkzog said:
Experts: Romania uses nationalism in anti-corruption fight
Romania_Protests_70632.jpg-373a2.jpg

A anti-government protester holds a poster depicting the leader of the ruling Social Democratic party Liviu Dragnea in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. Romania’s president told lawmakers Tuesday the country is in a “fully-fledged” political crisis, after hundreds of thousands demonstrated against a government measure that would weaken the country’s anti-corruption drive.​

Romania’s government, in trying to soften anti-corruption laws, is fanning the flames of nationalism by criticizing the presence of foreigners at protests, according to experts and politicians.

Officials also have been challenging the role of the European Union in the corruption fight, and suggesting it is time to put Romania first.

Cristian Parvulecsu, dean of the National School of Political Studies and Public Administration, said some members of Romania’s ruling Social Democratic Party are promoting values favored by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, known for his anti-refugee stance.

A week before the protests broke out, powerful Social Democratic Party chairman Liviu Dragnea, who faces corruption charges that block his route to becoming prime minister, told Romanian television that financial checks should be carried out on NGOs operating in Romania because some that receive public money may not be operating lawfully.

He singled out philanthropist and financier George Soros, who has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to promote democracy in the former Soviet bloc, for criticism.​


So, this has been going on while DP was down. Could Romania be the next Ukraine, except in reverse it would seem...
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I had been following this, but had not picked up on the fact that a nationalist flavor had been inserted into the clash. It has. Even a little since I was there often. But at the time corruption was a way of life. You paid bribes at all levels of society as far apart as getting building permits, the police to drive your car and yourself home when drunk or persuading a doctor to treat you at the university hospital.
 
joG said:
I had been following this, but had not picked up on the fact that a nationalist flavor had been inserted into the clash. It has. Even a little since I was there often. But at the time corruption was a way of life. You paid bribes at all levels of society as far apart as getting building permits, the police to drive your car and yourself home when drunk or persuading a doctor to treat you at the university hospital.
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The President claims that ultra-nationalists are not a problem at the moment, but I do not trust him (seeing as - as you said - he is part of the corrupt Romanian establishment). While Trump would be tar-feathered out of the U.S. if he did anything particularly Nazi-level policy-wise, his victory has certainly emboldened neo-fascists across Europe.

I'm waiting on the new Nazi Party to begin showing signs of presence. At the moment, it appears to be the Romanian Social Democrats under Dragnea, and it appears that a Nazi Party equivalent, if it does show up in Europe over the next decade, will be either Romanian or Russian (or both).
 
I hope they are successful, but if they are, they will copy the USA bribery schema which is political and charitable donations. It takes a lot of money to buy/rent politicians. On the other hand, Soros, the NED, USAID, CIA, and any number of NGOs fill the gap.
/
 
DaveFagan said:
I hope they are successful, but if they are, they will copy the USA bribery schema which is political and charitable donations. It takes a lot of money to buy/rent politicians. On the other hand, Soros, the NED, USAID, CIA, and any number of NGOs fill the gap.
/
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I don't think you realize, what corruption means there. It is a quite other problem than renting politicians, though, that is done there to an extent that is fascinating.
 
Abbazorkzog said:
The President claims that ultra-nationalists are not a problem at the moment, but I do not trust him (seeing as - as you said - he is part of the corrupt Romanian establishment). While Trump would be tar-feathered out of the U.S. if he did anything particularly Nazi-level policy-wise, his victory has certainly emboldened neo-fascists across Europe.

I'm waiting on the new Nazi Party to begin showing signs of presence. At the moment, it appears to be the Romanian Social Democrats under Dragnea, and it appears that a Nazi Party equivalent, if it does show up in Europe over the next decade, will be either Romanian or Russian (or both).
Click to expand...

Actually Johannis is supposedly less corrupt than the others. I never met him myself, but he is a good freind of my lawyer from when they were working together on the Sibu restauration project. He was mayor of Sibu at the time. On the other hand most of the public projects have not been doing any better since he has become president and people had been hoping there would be change. There was a yes we can feel to it, when he was elected.
 
joG said:
Actually Johannis is supposedly less corrupt than the others. I never met him myself, but he is a good freind of my lawyer from when they were working together on the Sibu restauration project. He was mayor of Sibu at the time. On the other hand most of the public projects have not been doing any better since he has become president and people had been hoping there would be change. There was a yes we can feel to it, when he was elected.
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I'll take your word for it, but I still think it is highly likely that he is underestimating these Romanian ultranationalists. Just my opinion judging by the political climate in Europe (and the world) right now...
 
DaveFagan said:
I hope they are successful, but if they are, they will copy the USA bribery schema which is political and charitable donations. It takes a lot of money to buy/rent politicians. On the other hand, Soros, the NED, USAID, CIA, and any number of NGOs fill the gap.
/
Click to expand...

Why would you support the replacement of one villainous faction with another? What good does that do?
Whomever wins we lose.
 
Abbazorkzog said:
The President claims that ultra-nationalists are not a problem at the moment, but I do not trust him (seeing as - as you said - he is part of the corrupt Romanian establishment). While Trump would be tar-feathered out of the U.S. if he did anything particularly Nazi-level policy-wise, his victory has certainly emboldened neo-fascists across Europe.

I'm waiting on the new Nazi Party to begin showing signs of presence. At the moment, it appears to be the Romanian Social Democrats under Dragnea, and it appears that a Nazi Party equivalent, if it does show up in Europe over the next decade, will be either Romanian or Russian (or both).
Click to expand...

Been following this as well. Mind you from far away and on an irregular basis. As it will be introduced in the Parliament, I wonder at its chances of passing??

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/04/romania-government-retracts-decree-after-protests
“We’ll hold an extraordinary meeting on Sunday to repeal the decree, withdraw, cancel it … and find a legal way to make sure it does not take effect,” Grindeanu said in a televised speech.

The prime minister said the proposal would be sent to the Romanian parliament for debate, which experts warn is not likely to appease protesters, who want the proposal to be cancelled completely.

“I don’t want to divide Romania … it can’t be divided in two. Romania in this moment seems broken in two,” he said.

The decree was due to come into force at midnight on Friday. Under its proposed terms it would have decriminalised abuse of power offences when sums of less than €44,000 (£38,000) are involved.
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UPDATE:

Romania | Justice minister quits over anti-graft law protests

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In another related development, the Constitutional Court said it wouldn’t rule on whether the ordinance was constitutional as requested by the ombudsman, saying the decree had been withdrawn from legislation.

Court chairman Valer Dorneanu said that “we did not find elements [of the decree] which had already been applied, and would have produced judicial effects.”

The government survived a vote of no confidence Wednesday in parliament, where it has a solid majority. AP​
 
The Week Revolution Returned to Romania

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10 February 2017

The protests grabbed the attention of international media and sparked fears of yet another blow being delivered to the rule of law in an eastern EU member state, echoing an illiberal political trend pioneered by conservative-nationalist governments in Poland and Hungary.

Rather than ending the crisis, the government’s eventual decision to repeal the decree five days after its introduction only reinforced a sense of righteous anger felt by Romanians who have continued to demonstrate, despite snowstorms and sub-zero temperatures.

Although numbers have dropped sharply, the protests have become a potent example of people power — forcing a sharp government U-turn and two ministerial resignations amid continuing demands for the government to quit.
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Protests in Romania continue despite resignation of minister of justice

People rallied near the government building in Bucharest, for the 10th day in a row, hours after the minister of justice, Florin Iordache, resigned, amid controversies regarding controversial amendments to the Criminal Code that he backed and that were later repealed.​

Take note Americans, this is effectively a demonstration of how to correctly fire a government by and for the people that is breaking company policy.
 
UPDATE: 11 February 2017

Romania: rival protests continue amid decree fallout

Rival demonstrators – both for and against the government – have been out in force to demand change.

This after a controversial decree on corruption, which sparked international criticism.

The protests are the biggest in the country since the fall of communism.

Supporters of the government have spent the last few days surrounding the residence of Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.

Iohannis had encouraged anti-corruption protesters to demonstrate in the centre of Bucharest and lambasted the government for proposing the bill.

Government backers have shouted for Romania to “Wake Up” and accuse the president of paying the protesters.​


Well... this is escalating quickly.
 
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As Romania's Crisis Continues, Spotlight on Corruption

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On Kovesi's watch, the DNA has boasted a conviction rate topping 90 percent, with guilty verdicts being handed to the likes of a prime minister and other top government officials. To her supporters, the figure represents an impressive achievement in the fight against corruption. To her critics, it is evidence of a system that is rigged in a way not seen since the communist era, when trials were often held only for show.

Kovesi's efforts have received praise from Western officials, including Americans. But some analysts say the longer the protests continue, the more likely the West will start to reassess its opinion of her and the effort she leads.

See Also:
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Romania's Relentless Turmoil Puts its Stability at Risk

The wave of protests and counter-protests in Romania could have damaging long-term consequences both for people’s trust in politics and for the economy, experts warn.

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The protests - the biggest since the fall of communism, taking place in more than 50 towns and cities across the country - forced the government to withdraw the decree. However, even with the legislation off the table for now, the political crisis that has engulfed Romania is likely to have longer-term consequences, once again exposing a deep rift in society.

“A large part of Romanian society is obviously increasingly distrustful and hostile towards the current government, while many other people have the same attitude towards the President and the opposition,” sociologist Barbu Mateescu observed. “Political tension is set to continue in Romania,” he added.

The previous government of Prime Minister Victor Ponta resigned in November 2015, following mammoth street protests, after graft among fire-safety inspectors led to a Bucharest nightclub fire that killed 64 people. Anti-corruption efforts have intensified over the past six years, as anti-graft investigations started to address big names and also to reveal cases of conflicts of interest, abuse of power, fraud and the award of state contracts in exchange for bribes.

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Romanian top diplomat says Bucharest to maintain dialogue with Moscow

Bucharest will maintain dialogue with Moscow in accordance with NATO and EU’s approach to Russia, Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu says

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Bucharest will maintain practical dialogue with Moscow in accordance with NATO and EU’s approach to Russia, Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu said in an interview with Radio Romania.

"Romania will maintain practical and meaningful dialogue with Russia refraining from crossing the borders set up by Romania’s NATO and EU membership," he said adding that "the European Union’s sanctions, involving Romania, do not hamper cultural ties but on the contrary, we should use them the best way we can."

"That’s what the positive development (of Romanian-Russian relations) requires," Melescanu went on to say. "This was one of the goals I set after becoming foreign minister." In the same interview, the Romanian top diplomat said that he planned to adopt "a more practical approach towards relations between Romania and Russia."


See Also:
Romanian minister optimistic about resumption of work of joint commission with Russia
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