By Christopher Condon in Budapest
Published: February 11 2006 02:00 | Last updated: February 11 2006 02:00
Romanian lawmakers will come under pressure from the European Union and from their own government in the coming days to reconsider a key piece of anti-corruption legislation rejected by the parliament's upper chamber on Thursday.
A day after the Romanian Senate voted down a proposed law that would allow the country's anti-corruption prosecutor to investigate senior politicians and judges, Traian Basescu, the president, invited the heads of political parties to meet him next week to discuss the legislation. The move followed a request from Calin Tariceanu, the prime minister, that Mr Basescu resubmit the bill to parliament.
Quentin Quayle, Britain's ambassador to Romania, yesterday condemned the senate's action and linked the issue to Romania's hopes to join the EU next January. Mr Quayle accused parliamentarians of putting their personal interests in avoiding scrutiny ahead of the national interest in cleaning up corruption and joining the EU.
"Unfortunately, in this sensitive period in the EU accession process, some people are more concerned with their own interests rather than the national interest. Some fish are wriggling to escape the net," he said.
The European Commission's Bucharest delegation also released a statement seen as another clear warning.
"We trust that Romania will vigorously pursue the fight against corruption at the highest level, and we will make our full analysis of the results in our upcoming report on May 16," a spokeswoman said. The commission's May report will be its last on Romania before member countries vote later this year on whether to allow Romania and Bulgaria to join in January.
© Copyright The Financial Times Ltd 2006
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