Romania – political update (Apr 5, 2007)

Apr 5, 2007 (Romania Report & sources)

President Basescu sanctions new Cabinet but slams oligarchy --- The Constitutional Court decided that new referendum bill is illegal --- Former Foreign Intelligence head finds new Govt. as anti-Constitutional --- President: Romania to continue NATO active involvement




President Basescu sanctions new Cabinet but slams oligarchy

The country’s President Traian Basescu today signed the decree approving the new Govt’s team that was passed already by vote in the Parliament, on Tuesday. On Wednesday, at 7:00 pm, Mr. Basescu delivered a message asking the Romanian citizens for support in his bid to promote reforms and fight against oligarchy.

The members of the new governmental cabinet are to take solemn oath on Thursday evening, during ceremony at the Presidential Cotroceni Palace, a press release of the Presidency reads on Wednesday.

At 7:00 pm, today, President Basescu provided a live TV speech, voicing a ‘message to Romania’s people’. He condemned the politics behind closed doors that allowed post-communist oligarchs to produce a Cabinet to back their illegitimate interests.

Corruption crackdown would be performed by an independent judicial system only, Basescu said, and also stated that he will not surrender an he will resolutely continue to fight for a rule-of-law state – in order to fulfill the hopes of those who elected him as President.

When he tackled the issue of the PM Tariceanu’s reshuffled team, Mr. Basescu said that “the ultra-minority Govt. faces a serious political legitimacy problem.”

The President also pointed out that "all politicians who are afraid of early polls want to rule Romania from behind closed doors and to defend their illegal businesses against the justice system".

The head of state also said that "those who support of a weak government are the same who take advantage of the imperfections of the post-communist constitutional and institutional system. The illegitimate goals of these groups seek further protection, as the state loses its authority and its public servants are easier to manipulate".

The majority vote was once again an issue in Basescu's speech, this time as seen as a foundation for creating strong, democratic governments.


The Constitutional Court decided that new referendum bill is illegal

The Constitutional Court, on Wednesday, ruled that the Referendum bill proposed by the Parliament was unconstitutional. The MPs wanted to sack the country’s president with only 50%+1 of the actual votes issued in a referendum (instead of 50%+1 of all listed voters).

As the Parliament’s bill was dismissed because of technicalities, it would be virtually impossible that President be ousted by means of a Referendum resulting from the ongoing MPs procedure that tries to prove that Mr. Basescu repeatedly infringed the Constitutional framework.


Former Foreign Intelligence head finds new Govt. as anti-Constitutional

Senator Ioan Talpes, the former chief for the Foreign Intelligence Service announced on Wednesday that he is about to challenge the legal legitimacy of the new government, as he intends to file a complaint, with this respect, at the Constitutional Court.

Talpes claims that PM Tariceanu is no longer entitled to hold the PM seat, since the ‘DA Alliance’ that initially nominated him ceased to exist. Even more, Talpes believes that president Basescu should appoint Social-Democrat leader, Mircea Geoana, as prime minister, since his party enjoys the parliamentarian majority.


President: Romania to continue NATO active involvement

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Wednesday that his country, which has been a member of NATO for three years, will continue to contribute to missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

"Marking NATO Day is a good occasion for reflection on the meaning of Romania's accession to NATO three years ago, and on the role we assumed and which we understand to accomplish with responsibility," said the president in a public message on the 58th anniversary of the establishment of NATO.

"For Romania, the NATO membership means more than ensuring a security umbrella. Winning the NATO membership marked an important stage in Romania's progressive reintegration, after 1989, to the family of the Euro-Atlantic democracies, a process initiated with the welcome into the Council of Europe and completed with the EU accession," he added.

Basescu also pledged Romania would continue its efforts in the NATO missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo.

"Through active involvement - from within the EU as well –, we want to the strengthen the transatlantic ties and the cooperation between NATO and the EU..." he said, "that is why Romania continues to be intensely involved in NATO missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo."



Romania Report & sources