Bucharest is the most corrupt city in Romania according to a survey conducted by the Clean Romania Coalition and the Academic Society entitled The Map of Local Corruption. The survey looked at four different aspects: the awarding of public contracts, the allocation of services for citizens, allocations to the reserve fund and preferential legislation.<\/p>\n
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After Bucharest, the most corrupt counties are Maramures, in the northwest, and Bacau, in the east, while the least corrupt counties are Salaj, in the northwest, Mehedinti and Teleorman, both in the south, and Botosani, in the northeast. The corruption map was based on figures published over the last five years by the National Anticorruption Directorate.<\/p>\n
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The survey indicates that local mayors are most vulnerable to corruption. The president of the Academic Society in Romania, Alina Mungiu Pippidi, explains what are the consequences of this fact.<\/p>\n
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Alina Mungiu Pippidi: \u201cWe have found a significant connection between the number of convictions in a given county based on the investigations of the National Anticorruption Directorate and voter turnout in elections. People are less likely to vote or there are fewer people who vote in the very corrupt counties because they feel there\u2019s no one they can vote for. It\u2019s always the same politicians who run for office, irrespective of their parties, and people perceive them all as being corrupt.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
The map of local corruption shows that at least one corruption case has been reported or has gone to trial in recent years in every single county in Romania. The study also shows that people in important positions are more likely to receive suspended sentences compared with ordinary people. At any rate, 56 mayors and deputy mayors received final sentences between 2010 and 2014 in Romania.<\/p>\n
As far as high-ranking officials are concerned, the National Anticorruption Directorate on Tuesday told a hearing in the European Parliament that it issued 12 different requests for prosecution against ministers and ex-ministers. The Romanian authorities have been urged to continue the reform of the judiciary and also tackle lower-level corruption.<\/p>\n
In its latest annual report, Transparency International noted that, in terms of corruption, Romania ranks between Italy and Bulgaria. As for the Romanians, 76% agree that corruption is a major problem in their country compared with 41% in Europe.<\/p>\n
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