The Week in Review (11-17 February)

A roundup at the main stories in Romania this week.

Roxana Vasile, 17.02.2018, 14:04

Scandal involving National Anticorruption Directorate

The National Anticorruption Directorate is again at the
heart of a large-scale scandal in Romania. The former Social Democrat MP Vlad
Cosma, sentenced by a court of first instance to five years in prison, has
launched, via the media, serious accusations against prosecutors with the
Prosecutor’s Office in Prahova County, in the south. He claims they allegedly
asked him to plant evidence in a case involving the former Social Democrat
Prime Minister Victor Ponta and the businessman Sebastian Ghita, who in the
meantime has fled to Serbia. Vlad Cosma provided the media with audio
recordings. In response to that, the Chief Prosecutor of the National
Anticorruption Directorate Laura Codruta Kovesi has denied the allegations:

Anticorruption prosecutors do not falsify evidence. They
observe the law when gathering evidence. The manner in which prosecutors carry
out a criminal investigation is subject to judicial control. Judges examine all
our investigations to see if prosecutors observe the law when filing evidence.

Denying the existence of a so-called Illegitimate
parallel state, which, according to some people, is allegedly trying to take
political control, including by fabricating cases, the president of the
country, Klaus Iohannis, unconditionally supports the National Anticorruption
Directorate and says that he sees no reason why the chief prosecutor should be
revoked. President Klaus Iohannis:

These are offenders who are desperately trying to
attack and discredit the National Anticorruption Directorate and its head. In
my opinion, this is a pathetic and unconvincing attempt. As regards the
activity carried out by the Directorate, you know my opinion. However, I shall
repeat it: the Directorate and its leadership are doing a great job.

In turn, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has called on
the Justice Minister Tudorel Toader to clarify the situation, because letting
it stall would have people lose trust in the system. Viorica Dancila:

These things must be clarified. Their verification
must be speeded up and a legal opinion formulated, because otherwise people
might lose trust in the justice system, and this should not happen.

Minister Toader, who has urgently returned to the
country from a formal visit to Japan, has announced that next week he will
present before Parliament a report on the activity of the National
Anticorruption Directorate, of the Directorate for Investigating Organised
Crime and Terrorism and of the Public Ministry. Also, on the 22nd of
February, in addition to reporting in Parliament, minister Toader will inform
the press about the content and conclusions of the analysis of DNA’s activity.

Romania sees record economic growth

In 2017, Romanian economy grew by 7% as compared to the
previous year. That was the biggest growth since 2008, according to data made
public on Wednesday by the National Statistics Institute. In the last quarter
last year, Romania reported the highest economic growth in the whole of the EU,
which was also confirmed by Eurostat. Economist Mircea Cosea has stated for
Radio Romania that this growth is a sign that real economy, private economy,
works in Romania despite difficulties. However, he has also warned about future
threats. Mircea Cosea:

If consumption-based growth continues, we will not
be able to maintain the growth at this level in the coming years. Because
growth centred on consumption is not sustainable, it just has peaks, as it
happened in 2017, but then it can drop to half the percentage registered in the
previous year.

More equipment for the Romanian Army

This week, the Romanian Government has endorsed the bill
on the purchase of three HIMARS missile systems, and has passed a resolution
establishing the conditions in which the Army will purchase four
multi-functional corvettes. The vessels will be built in the next seven years
in a shipyard in Romania, and the first corvette is to be delivered within
three years. The same resolution stipulates that the frigates owned by the
Romanian Navy must be modernised. According to a communiqué issued by the
Romanian Defence Ministry, this is the second army equipment programme stating
that manufacturing should take place in Romania, by involving the national
defence industry. The first programme was launched in January and provides for
the purchase of 227 Pirahna armoured vehicles, most of them manufactured by the
National Company for Military Technique in Bucharest.

The European Year of Cultural Heritage

The European Parliament and European Council have declared
2018 the European Year of Cultural Heritage. Officially launched in Bucharest
on Thursday, the programme will consist of thousands of events aimed at
familiarising Romanians with Europe’s cultural heritage. Here is the head of
the European Commission’s Representation in Bucharest, Angela Cristea with more
details:

We want to make sure that anybody has access to this
cultural heritage. There are many free events, in which people can take part.
At the same time, we want to promote a democratic and broad definition of the
European heritage.

With a budget of 8 million euros, the programme
contributes to educating and informing the public.