Corruption in the Romanian government

Yesterday the rumour was confirmed in Romania that Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu had written to President Traian Basescu in early 2005, asking him to intervene on behalf of a multi-millionaire businessman charged with tax evasion. Cristian Tudor Popescu is shocked: "Basescu's explanation for why he did not come clean about this is frightening: It would have brought discredit to the government and damaged Romania's integration into the EU. The president covers up his abuse of power because... 'the timing wasn't right'! Why take on corruption at all?... Seen in purely legal terms, the case will not lead to the resignation of the prime minister nor will President Basescu have to explain to the parliament why he withheld the truth. But in moral terms, the case means the prime minister came to the defence of an oligarch and that President Basescu was an accomplice."

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