Romania: Foreign Media update (May 18, 2007)

May 18, 2007 (Various sources)

Romania's President Traian Basescu looks as though he will escape sanction from his electorate in Saturday's impeachment referendum (EuroNews). According to opinion polls, he has a strong chance of being reinstated (BBC UK). Once inside the Union, the Romanian Parliament has turned its back on reform (EUOBSERVER). Romanian president included in World Record Book (Xinhua).

Basescu confident of surviving referendum

Romania's President Traian Basescu looks as though he will escape sanction from his electorate in Saturday's impeachment referendum. Parliament suspended him last month on charges of abuse of power, but he has mobilised large crowds in his "NO" to the referendum campaign, EuroNews said tday.

"I'm not afraid, it's the members of parliament who should be. As far as I'm concerned, going to the country is something I've wanted since 2005, when I called for early elections," he told EuroNews. Basescu's corruption-busting has, says former president Illescu, led to instability, and he appears ready to concede defeat in the referendum even before it is held.

While the president's anti-corruption drive is seen as vital in Romania and Brussels, some in parliament are tiring of it. Basescu's critics claim it has alienated him from the political consensus, and ask, is he now part of the solution to stalled reforms, or the problem?

EuroNews

Romania decides president's fate

Romanian voters go to the polls on Saturday in a referendum that will decide the fate of the country's suspended president, Traian Basescu.

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According to opinion polls, he has a strong chance of being reinstated.

Turnout is expected to be high, but the political acrimony and divisions rocking the country are likely to continue, whatever the result.

It has been a bitter, polarising campaign ignoring appeals for civility.

The voters will have to decide whether President Basescu is a threat to democracy or a political hero pushing for renewal and good governance.

Turmoil in prospect

The opposition Social Democrats, who initiated the impeachment process, describe Mr Basescu as dictatorial and corrupt, a failure who has never lived up to his constitutional duties.

The President claims that his enemies are desperate to stop his anti-corruption drive, which has rattled what he calls "the economic mafia".

The referendum will give the people's verdict, but it may not end the crisis. If the president wins, he will still be facing his opponents in parliament, who also control the government.

The president has called for them to resign, but legally he cannot force them to. If Mr Basescu loses, then new presidential elections are to be held within three months.

However, the opposition parties appear to lack a strong candidate, so Mr Basescu could yet return as frontrunner.

Some analysts say that only a general election could calm the situation, but the next poll is more than 18 months away.

Polls open at 0800 (0500 GMT) on Saturday and close at 2000, with results expected overnight.

BBC UK

EUOBSERVER: the Romanian Parliament has turned its back on reform

Go to any introductory lecture on the European Union and you will hear phrases such as 'unique experiment,' 'international co-operation,' 'rule of law.' Once inside the Union, the Romanian Parliament has turned its back on reform, Peter Sain ley Berry commented for EUOBSERVER today.

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Reneging on agreements We have seen various examples recently of a worrying trend towards reneging on agreements. On the Constitutional Treaty, for example, despite having solemnly accepted all of its provisions in 2004, various governments now want to change or withdraw from its provisions.

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Once inside the Union, the Romanian Parliament has turned its back on reform, dismissed its anti-corruption prosecutors, thrown out its respected and efficient Justice Minister - Monica Macovei - and voted massively to impeach its pro-EU President.

The country seems set to return to its old ways, even postponing its elections for the 35 seats in the European Parliament in case this should prove troublesome.

Banana republic standards

Many people argued that Romania and Bulgaria should not have acceded in 2007 but instead should have been forced to wait a year until the process of reform was complete.

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All is not lost of course. The suspended President - Traian Basescu - may well win his forthcoming impeachment referendum, though the authorities are not making life easy for him. If he does he has promised to take action to weaken the party bosses.

For its part the European Commission cannot simply wring its hands and hope that all will come right. Romania has broken the pledges it made. That cannot be without consequence and while there is no doubt that we all want to see Romania, growing and prospering as part of the European family, this has to be as a state with European rather than banana republic standards.

The wider point is that we are in no position to deplore Romania's fall from grace if other member states also show themselves willing to renege on agreements and understandings when it suits them.

Law can only work by consent. Respecting agreements, however uncomfortable, makes us all stronger. Ultimately we are our own policemen. It is not only Romania that must learn this.

If we don't European Government will be reduced to the impotent position of Saint-Exupéry's King, who regaled on an impressive throne but without any other accoutrements of power, is reduced to ordering Le Petit Prince, sometimes to obey him and sometimes not to do so. Not exactly a recipe for success and progress.

Excerpts from a EUOBSERVER comment


Romanian president included in World Record Book for fastest reply to citizen request Romania's suspended President Traian Basescu has made it on to the World Records Academy list, for the fastest presidential reply to a citizen request, the national Rompres news agency reported Friday.

According to the agency, Basescu promptly answered to an emergency citizen request on April 18 and issued in less than two hours a Presidential Decree conferring the national honor "The Star of Romania" to Mr Professor Liviu Librescu, killed in the massacre at Virginia Tech, the United States.

Also as requested, two days later, a special envoy of the Romanian president presented in Israel to Professor Librescu's widow and two sons the Star of Romania medal in recognition of his courage and contribution to science.

The certificate for this new world record will reach President Basescu over the next days and his achievement will be listed in the 2008 edition of the World Records Book, the official publication of the World Records Academy.

The U.S.-based World Records Academy scours the globe to find the widest selection of authentic world records. It is the leading international organization which certifies world records.

Source: Xinhua

Romania Report – using various sources (first published in www.romania-report.ro, May 18, 2007)