High-rank corruption cases – "a minus for our judicial system"

President Traian Băsescu asserted that the European Commission’s judicial report revealed that a great disadvantage for the Romanian judicial system was brought by the fact that the files concerning high-level corruption ‘did not make any move’

Traian Băsescu declared that the main responsibility for delaying the adjudication of those cases belongs to the High Court of Cassation and Justice.

Moreover, the President added that the report outlined Parliament’s negative attitude against the cases concerning high-level corruption and he was referring mainly to the cases of Monica Iacob Ridzi and Dan Păsat.

Traian Băsescu warned that unsolved issues related to high-level corruption will lead to a negative summer report.

He believes that, on the other side, the European Commission’s report bears out Romanian’s commitment to improve the judicial system.

He mentioned that according to European Commission estimation, România had a constructive attitude against European officials’ recommendations offered in July and December 2010.

Traian Băsescu emphasized that the improvements noted in the report were something natural.

"There have been done things that should have been done. We have no reason to mention what achievements we have had; eventually we are on our way to normality", Traian Băsescu said.

The President added that Governments’ institutions would have to keep on fighting against organized crime.

Moreover, the president drew the attention upon the fact that the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification had nothing to do with Romania’s adhesion to the Schengen Area.

Translated by: Cristina Anamaria Maricescu
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University