----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2004 7:38 PM Subject: [romania-economics] news Romanian civic groups publish lists of allegedly corrupt and unfit politicians
Romanian civic groups publish lists of allegedly corrupt and unfit politicians By ALISON MUTLER .c The Associated Press BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - Local media on Wednesday published a list of more than 130 politicians, including seven government ministers, who civic rights groups say are ``incompatible'' with serving in a parliament free of corruption. Ahead of Nov. 28 elections, the Coalition for a Clean Parliament released a list of politicians they say are corrupt, have collaborated with the communist secret police, have conflicts of interest or have switched parties several times. The list is part of a seven-month campaign aimed at eliminating corruption in the legislature. Senior politicians on the list include Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, Finance Minister Mihai Tanasescu, Economy Minister Dan Ioan Popescu, Defense Minister Mircea Pascu, Transportation Minister Miron Mitrea, Education Minister Alexandru Athanasiu and Health Minister Ovidiu Branzan. The coalition investigated about 300 Romanian politicians who are running in the elections. It released the list Tuesday, and most newspapers printed some of the 130 names Wednesday, stirring controversy. The ruling Social Democratic Party accused the campaign of being politically biased. ``It represents the rightist political forces in Romania,'' party spokesman Titus Corlatean said Tuesday. There was no reaction from the main opposition group, the Justice and Truth Alliance. The groups accused Foreign Minister Geoana and Economy Minister Popescu of having unexplained income. They also accused Popescu of causing financial losses to the Romanian state by favoring foreign companies. They alleged that Mitrea, the transportation minister, unfairly distributed public funds to certain regions. >From the opposition, Liberal lawmaker Paul Pacariu, and lesser known politicians Stelian Dutu, Valentin Iliescu and Valeriu Gheorghe were named. Former Justice Minister Rodica Stanoiu, also on the list, has said she'll sue for libel. The ruling Social Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Humanist Party of Romania, dropped 29 candidates who appeared on the list. The opposition Liberal Party and Democratic Party also dropped some candidates. An opinion poll released Tuesday said 41 percent of Romanians fear there may be fraud in the upcoming elections. The Center for Urban and Regional Sociology questioned 1,050 people this month in the survey, which had a margin of error of 3 percentage points. The 13 civic rights groups participating in the campaign included the local offices of U.S.-based Freedom House, the anti-corruption organization Transparency International and the Association for the Defense of Human Rights-Helsinki Committee. 10/27/04 09:38 EDT . ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/RR.olB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> EuroAtlantic Club: http://www.europe.org.ro/euroatlantic_club/ *** Birou de traduceri autorizate. Oana Gheorghiu - tel/fax: 252.8681 / [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romania_eu_list/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
