Freedom House (Autor): „Nations in Transit 2016 - Romania“, Dokument #1029262

Nations in Transit 2016 - Romania

Regime Classification:

Semi - Consolidated Democracy

Democracy Score:

3.46

Romania and CEE Regional AverageRomaniaCEE Regional AverageElectoralProcessCivilSocietyIndependentMediaNationalDemocraticGovernanceLocalDemocraticGovernanceJudicialFrameworkandIndependenceCorruption71234567Highcharts.com

Each spoke of the spider graph represents one category of NIT rated from 1 to 7, with 1 representing the highest level of democratic progress and 7 the lowest. The NIT 2016 ratings reflect the period from 1 January through 31 December 2015.

Nations in Transit Category and Democracy Scores

	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
National Democratic Governance	3.50	3.75	3.75	4.00	3.75	3.75	4.00	3.75	3.75	3.75
Electoral Process	2.75	2.75	2.50	2.75	2.75	3.00	3.00	3.00	3.25	3.25
Civil Society	2.25	2.25	2.50	2.50	2.50	2.50	2.50	2.50	2.50	2.25
Independent Media	3.70	3.75	3.75	4.00	4.00	4.00	4.25	4.25	4.25	4.25
Local Democratic Governance	3.00	3.00	3.00	3.00	3.00	3.00	3.00	3.00	3.00	3.25
Judicial Framework and Independence	3.75	4.00	4.00	4.00	4.00	3.75	3.75	3.75	3.75	3.75
Corruption	4.00	4.00	4.00	4.00	4.00	4.00	4.00	4.00	3.75	3.75
Democracy Score	3.29	3.36	3.36	3.46	3.43	3.43	3.50	3.46	3.46	3.46

NOTE: The ratings reflect the consensus of Freedom House, its academic advisers, and the author(s) of this report. If consensus cannot be reached, Freedom House is responsible for the final ratings. The ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 representing the highest level of democratic progress and 7 the lowest. The Democracy Score is an average of ratings for the categories tracked in a given year. The opinions expressed in this report are those of the author(s).

Executive Summary:

Since Romania joined the European Union (EU) in 2007, institutional conflicts, political tugs-of-war, and corruption scandals have marred the country’s progress toward full democratization. State officials, especially at the national level, have been more concerned with negotiating the rules than with respecting them, and in certain cases they have been more occupied with putting on a convincing show than enacting truly meaningful changes. Although 2015 was no different in this respect, the year featured the dramatic resignation of Prime Minister Victor Ponta as a result of large-scale street protests.

Ponta was indicted on various charges by the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), though he was far from being the only high-ranking official under investigation. The ongoing crackdown on corruption triggered attempts by lawmakers to decriminalize certain acts. It also created power vacuums at the local level, which the government was obliged by law and by the courts to fill through partial elections. Instead of complying, the government tasked prefects with appointing temporary placeholders. The law on local public administration was then quickly changed via emergency ordinance to legitimize the government’s actions.

Separately, the Romanian Constitutional Court (CCR) struck down a series of laws on internet security and user data—known to critics as the “Big Brother laws”—that infringed on individual rights and freedoms. Other controversial legislative proposals, such as Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Liviu Dragnea’s attempt to outlaw criticism directed toward someone’s political affiliation, were dropped due to opposition from civil society.

In terms of policy, there were both positive and negative developments. While some measures were greeted with enthusiasm, such as changes that allowed parties to be founded by as few as three members, other measures, such as a set of unpopular electoral laws, largely negated their benefits. The retention of the first-past-the-post rule for the election of mayors is a prime example of the latter, as it is believed to favor entrenched incumbents.

Wary of agreements with the EU that entail budget cuts in the event of unsatisfactory reforms, the government accelerated implementation of the Strategy for Consolidating Public Administration (SCAP), setting up working groups and urging ministries to carry out the recommended changes. However, the Ponta government was accused of being interested only in ticking the boxes required by the European Commission without enacting any genuine reform. The new, technocratic government that was appointed after Ponta’s resignation included administrative reform among its top priorities.

A scandal triggered by flawed balloting for Romanians living abroad during the 2014 presidential election led to talks about long-distance voting mechanisms, such as electronic and correspondence voting. The parliamentary parties agreed that correspondence voting was necessary, and adopted a law in November introducing the mechanism in time for the 2016 parliamentary elections. The initiative was largely welcomed, but complaints did arise over the fact that the bill was drafted and quickly passed into law with minimal public consultation; critics raised several other concerns, such as the lack of provisions for tracing mailed ballots and uncertainty that the postal services could deliver every ballot on time.

The government was reluctant to accept large numbers of refugees under the EU’s reallocation plan, reflecting societal divisions on the issue. The country ultimately agreed to receive the newcomers, but few actually arrived, partly because of the limited funding the government made available to support them. Romania also committed to closer cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) by lifting a cap on the number of U.S. troops allowed to be present in the country.

Society came together late in the year to pay respects to victims caught in a nightclub fire that was linked to inadequate enforcement of safety regulations. Combined with the accidental death of a police officer in what was allegedly an illegal motorcade for a high-ranking official, the disaster led to widespread anger and street protests over the authorities’ apparent indifference toward the lives of ordinary citizens. The demonstrations, which targeted the entire political class with the slogan “Corruption Kills,” were the largest in Romania since 1990. They prompted the resignation of Ponta and his cabinet in November and the appointment of a new government of politically unaffiliated ministers led by Dacian Cioloş.

Score Changes:

Civil Society rating improved from 2.50 to 2.25 due to increased involvement and participation by both institutionalized and noninstitutionalized elements of civil society, as well as the new government’s declared intention to improve transparency and citizens’ involvement in decision making.
Local Democratic Governance rating declined from 3.00 to 3.25 due to the central government’s disregard for the law and a court order calling for early elections to fill vacancies at the local government level.

As a result, Romania’s Democracy Score remained unchanged at 3.46.

Outlook for 2016: Local and general elections will take place as both of the country’s main political parties face numerous allegations of corruption amid growing public dissatisfaction with their performance. This is a golden opportunity for new political parties and leaders to make an impact. The most pertinent issues for the year will include the process of administrative reform, the appointment of important officials in the prosecutorial system and high courts, and the effects that electoral reforms may have on civic engagement. The biggest question, however, will be whether the new technocratic government can muster the necessary parliamentary majority and bureaucratic backing to achieve the ambitious goals set out in its governing program, including regulatory overhauls, improvement of major infrastructure projects, and the successful organization and management of the elections.

National Democratic Governance:

2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
3.50	3.75	3.75	4.00	3.75	3.75	4.00	3.75	3.75	3.75

Following his election in November 2014, President Klaus Iohannis faced a trial on charges of conflict of interest. By law, it is forbidden for a mayor to be a stakeholder in companies that operate in the same locality, and Iohannis had been concurrently mayor of Sibiu and board member of two companies. However, a mayor is allowed to be a board member of companies that function in other administrative units. On January 21, 2015, the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ) ruled that Iohannis did not have a conflict of interest because the companies in question operated at the regional level, not just in the city of Sibiu.[1]
The government continued to use emergency ordinances excessively, issuing 55 in 2015.[2] Still, this is less than half of the number passed in previous years: 95 emergency ordinances were issued in 2014, and 117 in 2013.[3]
In March, the Senate voted to allow Darius Vâlcov—the finance minister and a member of the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD)—to be held in detention pending his trial, but rejected a similar request in the case of senior PSD figure and former minister of transportation Dan Şova, prompting a public outcry. Article 72(2) of the constitution states that members of Parliament can only be arrested with approval from the chamber to which they belong. Moreover, suspects can legally be held in pretrial detention if they are a threat to public safety, which was debatable in both cases, although the prosecutors said there was a risk that the men could influence witnesses.[4] Another request to detain Şova was rejected in June.[5] Both he and then Prime Minister Victor Ponta were eventually indicted and prepared for trial without being detained.[6] Following Ponta’s indictment on charges of forgery, money laundering, and tax evasion, the opposition National Liberal Party (PNL) attempted to oust him via a no-confidence vote on September 29, but the initiative failed to garner sufficient support.[7]
In November, Ponta resigned following the largest street protests since 1990. The demonstrations were triggered by a deadly nightclub fire that was blamed on lax enforcement of safety regulations and stoked public frustration with the entire political class (see Civil Society). A new cabinet was appointed, with former European Union (EU) agriculture commissioner and political independent Dacian Cioloş as prime minister.[8] The new government faced initial criticism for its choice of cabinet members, some of whom performed poorly in hearings by Parliament’s assessment committees. The fact that the committees nevertheless approved every appointment prompted suspicions that the voting was politically motivated,[9] and that the parliamentary parties intended to undermine the new government. These claims were reinforced by the fact that PSD leader Liviu Dragnea conditioned his party’s support on the implementation of laws adopted after Ponta’s resignation but before the new cabinet was sworn in, such as a 10 percent wage increase for all state workers,[10] as well as on the adoption of the state budget by year’s end and an increase in the minimum wage.[11]
Vasile Dîncu, the deputy prime minister in the new government, argued that Romania’s Strategy for the Consolidation of Public Administration (SCAP) needed some essential revisions, including greater provisions for transparency and for the autonomy of local governments.[12] The PSD government had published the SCAP in the official gazette in November 2014 as part of its efforts to meet the conditions for continued EU funding through several operational programs.[13] Under the strategy, a wide range of institutions, authorities, and civil society organizations would work together to digitize public services; correct overlapping, vague, or contradictory legislation; and improve the quality of public services overall. Romania ranks as the poorest performer in the EU in terms of e-government measures, and it still relies largely on a bloated bureaucracy and administrative mechanisms that have changed little since the communist era.[14] In spite of the commitment to reform represented by the SCAP, the Ponta government was accused of being superficial in its approach and not truly devoted to change.[15]
Elsewhere on the political stage, the National Union for the Progress of Romania (UNPR) rose to prominence by absorbing parties and party switchers from all sides.[16] Having won just 10 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 5 seats in the Senate in the 2012 elections, the party grew to 40 deputies and 15 senators by August 2015. It also secured the portfolio of minister of internal affairs for its president, Gabriel Oprea, in 2014; Oprea later acted as prime minister twice in Ponta’s absence. Questions as to how such a small party could play such an important role gave rise to the popular rumor that Oprea had promised various officials protection from the law.[17]
By far the greatest foreign policy issue of 2015 was the refugee crisis. On September 7, President Iohannis declared that Romania would receive no more than 1,700 refugees.[18] The EU Council’s announcement that a total of 4,837 refugees would be allocated stirred a wave of resentment, but preparations were nevertheless made to accommodate them in tents in the west of the country.[19] The first refugees arrived on September 15, but their numbers remained low,[20] partly because a 2006 law authorized less than 6 lei ($1.50) per day to cover each asylum seeker’s expenses.[21]
On April 1, in the context of increased North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) activity in the region following Russian aggression in Ukraine, Parliament repealed a 2007 law limiting the number of U.S. troops that could be present in Romania to 3,000.[22] The change was not debated and was largely overlooked in the mainstream media.

Electoral Process:

2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
2.75	2.75	2.50	2.75	2.75	3.00	3.00	3.00	3.25	3.25

Romanian law prohibits changing the electoral code less than one year before elections. Given the schedule for the local (June 2016) and general elections (November/December 2016), there was a rush in the first half of 2015 to change the electoral code and other legislation pertaining to parties and party financing. In April, the law was changed to allow political parties to be founded by just three members—down from 25,000 spread over a certain geographical area, which was found to be an unconstitutional burden.[23] However, parties are still required to meet certain quotas in signatures and candidates in order to remain in the registry of political parties.[24] According to monitoring results published in January 2016, 85 official requests for the establishment of new political parties were submitted, of which 34 were approved and formalized.[25]
A law adopted in May changed the method of electing county council presidents, replacing the existing system of direct election with an indirect, secret-ballot vote by county councilors.[26] The dismissal of county council presidents now requires an initiative by one-third of council members and a two-thirds majority vote in favor of the dismissal. The new law retained the single-round, first-past-the-post system for electing mayors, despite calls for two-round elections. Some 40 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) had signed an open letter in April demanding a return to the two-round majority vote, arguing that it offered greater legitimacy, consensus, and a fair chance for new parties and candidates.[27] In September, PNL proposed a bill to amend the law and revert to two-round elections for mayors, though even if passed it could not be implemented in 2016.[28]
Another bill that was passed into law in May concerned the financing of political parties and electoral campaigns, establishing that parties will have to declare loans in addition to donations. If the loans are not repaid within three years, they will be considered donations.[29] For parties that obtain more than 3 percent of the vote, the state will reimburse any expenses incurred during the electoral process from the central budget (rather than the local one, as was previously done) within 90 days of the elections. While the law did address some important issues regarding party financing, it left large gaps that would allow for fraud by various means.[30]
A law adopted in July reintroduced proportional representation for the 2016 parliamentary elections. The single-member district system introduced in 2008 had sparked some controversy, especially regarding the redistribution algorithm. The new law is essentially a return to the previous method of closed-list voting.[31]
The year also featured serious discussions on the issue of long-distance voting following the scandal that arose over the management of polling centers for Romanians living abroad during the November 2014 presidential election. Correspondence voting and e-voting were both considered as remedies,[32] but political support rallied only around the former, and the two largest parties agreed to authorize correspondence voting in time for the 2016 parliamentary elections.[33] Some civil society organizations claimed that the legislation was rushed, resulting in several shortcomings. For instance, the law only applied to voters who reside abroad, lacked any means of tracking ballots in real time to ensure swift delivery, failed to provide sanctions in case the postal service does not deliver votes on time, and was unclear regarding situations in which elections have to be held in two rounds.[34] In spite of these weaknesses, President Iohannis signed the law on November 19, in time for the 2016 general elections.

Civil Society:

2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
2.25	2.25	2.50	2.50	2.50	2.50	2.50	2.50	2.50	2.25

Eight of the most influential civil society organizations in Romania unsuccessfully requested that President Iohannis send the law on political parties to the Romanian Constitutional Court (CCR), claiming that the criteria for deregistering a party were unconstitutional. Having a party deregistered for not supplying enough candidates was seen as a threat to local parties interested only in their own geographical areas.[35]
In another civil society action in the first half of the year, about 5,000 people took to the streets in May to protest illegal logging and demand amendments to the forest code,[36] which Iohannis had refused to sign after its initial adoption. However, lawmakers passed the code into law on May 20 without the desired amendments.[37]
The month of October was marked by tragic events that mobilized the public. A police officer died on October 20 while escorting the vehicle of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs Gabriel Oprea, who did not have the right to use motorcades, prompting citizen protests against government abuse of power. Oprea was interrogated on October 28,[38] but the case was soon overshadowed by an October 30 nightclub fire that resulted in the death of over 60 people and the hospitalization of more than 100 others.[39] As in previous years, citizens organized via social media, this time focusing on helping to identify victims and donating blood.[40]
The government declared three days of mourning, and 12,000 people marched in silence on November 1 to pay their respects.[41] Participants did not outwardly demand political change during the march, but many voices did blame the incident on authorities for overlooking safety regulations and issuing operating permits in exchange for bribes.[42] On November 3, over 20,000 people took to the streets in Bucharest, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Ponta, Deputy Prime Minister Oprea, and Cristian Popescu Piedone, the mayor of Bucharest’s Fourth District, where the nightclub fire occurred.[43]
Ponta, already under pressure due to his formal indictment on corruption charges in September, resigned on November 4,[44] but this was not enough to satisfy the protesters, who gathered in even greater numbers that day. Over 30,000 people marched through Bucharest, and another 30,000 gathered across the country, calling for an end to political corruption and the renewal of the entire political class, among other demands.[45] President Iohannis summoned representatives of the protesters for consultations. The way in which the individuals were selected, and the fact that the meeting took place behind closed doors, triggered controversy.[46] The only concrete outcome of the talks was that Iohannis agreed to meet with protesters in the street, which he did on November 8.[47] By that time there was growing division among the demonstrators, as well as attempts to hijack the movement for other goals, and attendance had diminished. Still, the threat of mass rallies lingered, and the major parties therefore agreed on a nonpartisan prime minister and a technocratic cabinet to replace Ponta’s government.[48]
Despite instances of exemplary conduct, citizens rarely organize themselves in grassroots civic groups. Most remain largely passive and uninvolved in democratic processes outside of elections, especially in the absence of funding or immediate crises.[49] In July, a study showed that fewer than half of Romanian NGOs promote themselves online, while about 82 percent have never applied for grants.[50] A report published by the Civil Society Development Foundation (FDSC) shows that at least 39,347 civil society organizations are registered in Romania, but that many are not active and few have access to consistent sources of funding. Consequently, while the total amount of financing granted to NGOs is increasing, the average income per organization is in decline.[51]
Civil society was involved in the Electoral Code Commission’s debates, but only a few proposals, such as allowing parties with at least three members to register, were ultimately incorporated into legislation.[52] In contrast to the usual practice of passing important laws without meaningfully consulting civil society, Prime Minister Ponta asked to collaborate with the civil sector on the refugee issue as it became more urgent and divisive in the latter part of the year.[53]
After the installment of the new technocratic government in November, civil society involvement in the decision-making process was more vibrant. A Ministry for Public Consultation and Civic Dialog (MCPDC) was established, and Violeta Alexandru—herself a former NGO director—was appointed as minister with a mandate to create horizontal channels of communication and enhance decision-making transparency and access to public information.[54] The Cioloş cabinet generally encouraged the involvement of civil society professionals; one such figure was proposed as justice minister, but the nomination was rapidly withdrawn after a poor performance before Parliament’s assessment committee.[55] Despite this setback, several civil society professionals were drawn into the government, a change that was welcomed by the public.[56] However, in an indication that the central government’s old modus operandi could persist, the public consultation organized by the MCPDC for the 2016 budget took the rather awkward form of an “information and cognition” gathering, since the budget was already largely complete before the scheduled consultation. The process triggered discontent because it disregarded the legal timeframe allotted for public debate and, more importantly, the opinions of civil society.[57]

Independent Media:

2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
3.75	3.75	3.75	4.00	4.00	4.00	4.25	4.25	4.25	4.25

The year brought few changes to the Romanian media’s dire situation and even fewer prospects for improvement. Newspaper circulation continued its freefall in 2015. The four remaining national news dailies have a total circulation of less than 40,000,[58] while the rise in internet traffic did not manage to compensate for lost revenue, leaving news media even more financially strained than they used to be. Tabloidization and click baiting took their toll on the quality of online media. Television remains the main source of information for most of the public, but scandals continue to shake the stations’ credibility, while perpetual layoffs hinder their ability to perform their newsgathering function.
The only attempt by lawmakers to limit freedom of speech in 2015 came disguised as a law to prevent the “social defamation” of people in relation to their ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, disabilities, social origin, and other such factors.[59] While some aspects of the proposal could arguably be considered appropriate, the draft law also listed political affiliation among the criteria that qualify a social group as a potential target for discrimination, effectively turning criticism of a political party into a crime.^[60] After a media firestorm, PSD leader Liviu Dragnea, the bill’s sponsor, promised to eliminate the political criterion and lower the fines, which had been deemed too high, for all other offenses. A letter from several civic organizations asked for the bill to be scrapped altogether, claiming that it was not adequately conceived and could do more harm than good.[61] It remained under consideration at year’s end.
The criminal cases under way in 2015 served as important indicators for the state of the media, as the details revealed through the prosecutors’ investigations shed some light on the inner workings of major media outlets.[62] The arrest of media mogul Adrian Sârbu on charges of tax evasion and the subsequent insolvency of his news agency Mediafax left only one nationwide news agency on the market, the state-owned Agerpres. For the understaffed newsrooms around the country, this means less variety of information to work with and a greater slant toward the “official” version of events.[63]
The trial of former regional development and tourism minister Elena Udrea revealed how the media were manipulated to push forward convenient pieces of news, take “negative” news offline, and employ professional commenters who, presenting themselves as ordinary readers, would advance the minister’s agenda.[64] Their tactics included the use of anti-Semitic and homophobic remarks to discredit the minister’s political opponents.[65]
In July, the European Court of Human Rights found that Romania had violated freedom of expression by convicting journalist Ioan T. Morar of slander in 2005. In 2004, Morar had published satirical articles on Victor Gaetan, an adviser to potential presidential candidate Lia Roberts.[66]
Another high-profile case revealed the extent to which local media can become a means of blackmail. The director and an editor of local weekly, Atac de Buzău, were arrested in October and charged with trying to obtain advertising contracts in exchange for not publishing damaging or defamatory information about local politicians.[67]

Local Democratic Governance:

2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
3.00	3.00	3.00	3.00	3.00	3.00	3.00	3.00	3.00	3.25

Following a string of convictions, resignations, and more or less deliberate dissolutions of local councils, a significant number of vacancies left some local authorities crippled. The most notable case was that of Rădăuţi, where the mayor was arrested, the local council was dissolved, and the town secretary’s mandate to handle municipal affairs expired. This meant that there was nobody in the town who could legally take charge of day-to-day matters such as paying wages.[68] Neither the law nor the constitution provided for the emergence of such a power vacuum.
By law, the government is obliged to organize special elections for vacant offices within 90 days after the position is vacated and at least one year before the regularly scheduled elections.[69] In February 2015, PNL sued the government for failing to comply with these rules. In mid-May, the Bucharest Court of Appeal ruled in favor of PNL, obliging the government to organize elections for, by then, 19 Parliament seats, 28 mayors, and three county council presidents by June 7, the last possible date before the 2016 local and parliamentary elections.[70]
Rather than complying with the court’s decision, the government appointed a temporary secretary in Rădăuţi in late May via the county prefect’s office, ending a monthlong power vacuum,[71] and in October adopted an emergency ordinance that changed the law to enable the prefect to appoint an authorizing officer in localities where a power vacuum emerges. The opposition saw this as blatant disregard for the law and the court, and accused the government of trying to “cover up the traces” of its illegal conduct by changing the law to authorize abuses already committed.[72]
Within Parliament, a few attempts were made to change the status of locally elected officials. Currently, the law states that the mandate of local councilors or mayors ceases if they receive any definitive custodial sentence. Some lawmakers proposed bills to clarify that only sentences to be served, as opposed to suspended sentences, lead automatically to the mandate’s termination.[73] The proposals had yet to win approval in either chamber at year’s end.[74]
In 2014, the government issued an emergency ordinance that temporarily lifted a ban on party switching by local elected officials. Although the CCR later declared the measure unconstitutional, Parliament was supposed to pursue legislation that could undo its effects. In February 2015, the Chamber of Deputies rejected the ordinance but adopted an amendment that allowed mayors who switched parties to keep their mandates.[75] In November, however, the Judicial Committee in the Senate voted that mayors must automatically return to their previous parties to retain their mandates, and that local councilors who switched parties would automatically lose their mandates.[76] While this was dubbed a “return to legality,” some experts argued that forcibly returning mayors to their initial parties instead of simply stripping their mandates was unconstitutional and part of a political maneuver meant to strengthen some parties and weaken others ahead of the coming elections.[77] The committee’s proposal was awaiting approval from the Senate at the end of the year.[78]
In November, the Cioloş cabinet produced a government program that included a return to two-round elections for local representatives.[79] This was dropped in the revised version that was advanced the next day, but other goals remained, including lowering the threshold for local council elections, digitizing electoral lists, and allowing associations of independent candidates in local elections.[80]

Judicial Framework and Independence:

2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
3.75	4.00	4.00	4.00	4.00	3.75	3.75	3.75	3.75	3.75

While judges continued to hand down sentences for high-level corruption in 2015, judicial independence remained an issue in several respects. The Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) was accused by media sources and political figures of having undercover agents in key institutions—such as the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM)—where, by law, they are not permitted. This led to fears that the security services might be manipulating the judicial process and the media.^[81]
DNA Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruţa Kövesi sued a television station for defamation in 2014, and the case was heard in 2015. The owner of the station was in jail for corruption and had regularly, strongly criticized her and the DNA’s activity.[82] To back her case, Kövesi presented the script from the show in question and argued that it indicates a clear intention to diminish the legitimacy and credibility of her office.[83] Kövesi won the lawsuit, and financial damages were awarded, but an appeal was pending at year’s end.[84]
Early in the year, George Maior, head of the SRI, supported a package of initiatives dubbed the “Big Brother laws,” particularly after the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack in France. The first bill would require telephone and internet operators to collect and store user identification data. The second bill required identification to be provided for the purchase of prepaid phone cards and connections to free wireless networks. The third measure, which concerned cybersecurity, allowed the SRI and other state institutions to access private networks without the explicit need for a warrant. Maior resigned in late January after the CCR rejected all three of the initiatives.[85]
A law on data collection was eventually adopted in October, but it was far less controversial. It obliged communication companies to keep traffic data for no more than three years, and to provide certain information to investigative and judicial bodies or structures in charge of national security within 48 hours, though only if the request is approved by a judge.[86]
Prosecutors’ improved anticorruption performance in recent years is due largely to their cooperation with security services, such as the SRI. Its annual reports show that the SRI has listened to over 20,000 people’s conversations on average per year on behalf of anticorruption prosecutors, 10 times more than the annual number of national security wiretaps, which are also frequently used in corruption indictments. Critics are concerned by the overdependence of prosecutors on the SRI, which has been denounced by former president Traian Băsescu.[87] Former chief prosecutor Daniel Morar, now a CCR judge, claims that the SRI should provide only technical help, as the law does not allow prosecutors themselves to tap phones. Morar made these comments when his colleague, CCR judge Toni Greblă, was arrested shortly after he voted against a bill supported by the SRI.[88] Kövesi explained that legal barriers between the DNA and SRI are respected, that all the wiretapping mandates are granted through the DNA’s technical service, and that the collaboration is limited in nature.[89] She also stated that only a small fraction of the cases registered by the DNA were based on referrals from the SRI.[90]
Several anticorruption prosecutors were investigated for malfeasance themselves, with some receiving indictments and sentences for corruption.[91]
The SRI’s involvement in the judiciary caused a wave of concern about the extent and nature of its role. The Center for Judicial Resources (CJR) and other associations of magistrates addressed the possibility that prosecutors were serving as undercover agents, a claim which was swiftly denied by the parliamentary committee responsible for oversight of the SRI.[92] Still, former CSM president Horaţius Dumbravă asked President Iohannis to mediate the conflict between the magistrates and the SRI.[93]
Further controversy emerged in October when the CSM was accused of making unacceptable demands for amendments to legislation on judicial appointments.[94] The proposed amendments envisioned appointments based on interviews and length of service, as opposed to assessment of competence via standardized tests; the elimination of any assessment for people who have served as prosecutor or justice for at least 10 years; and the elimination of any periodic evaluation for ICCJ justices or judges with a length of service of over 20 years.[95]
Another point of contention in 2015 was the penal code. In a report that appeared a year and a half after the new code entered into force, the CSM criticized it for penalties that were not always aligned with the seriousness of the offense. Based on multiple CCR rulings, the CSM claimed that the code needed reassessment.[96] The same report also demanded the disbanding of military tribunals.[97] In spite of the CSM’s position, a recent NGO study noted a performance improvement in all 42 county-level courts, which it associated with the new penal code. The trend did not apply, however, to other courts of law.[98]
In May, a legislative initiative, yet to be approved by the Chamber of Deputies, caused an uproar from the parliamentary opposition, anticorruption bodies, civil society, and President Iohannis because it would limit the scope of two articles in the penal code that criminalize conflicts of interest. Members of the governing coalition argued that, in their present form, the articles cause “severe hindrances in the efficient performance of work-related tasks for all legal entities.”[99] In response, the DNA underlined that these modifications would seriously damage recent efforts to investigate and punish high-level corruption, since some local public officials who have already been charged with conflicts of interest, including several county council presidents and mayors, would be acquitted or have their cases closed.[100] In the same vein, the president announced that if the changes were approved by Parliament, he would return them for reexamination or refer them to the CCR for review.
Developments in cases pertaining to historical crimes were mixed in 2015. On the one hand, former president Ion Iliescu was indicted for crimes against humanity for his role in the brutal suppression of the University Square student movement in 1990.[101] On the other hand, a case involving the 1989 Romanian Revolution was closed two days later without any convictions. The case concerned the 709 people killed, 1,855 injured by gunshots, 343 injured in other circumstances, and 924 detained during the revolution. The court ruled that some deeds had already been addressed in other cases, and that many of the casualties were due to a power vacuum or soldiers’ stress and fatigue.[102]

Corruption:

2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
4.00	4.00	4.00	4.00	4.00	4.00	4.00	4.00	3.75	3.75

The year brought new corruption scandals in Romania, but the overall level of corruption remained steady. The DNA continued to pursue cases against the country’s highest-ranking officials, with targets including CCR justice Toni Greblă, National Integrity Agency (ANI) president Horia Georgescu, Finance Minister and Senator Darius Vâlcov, Minister of Regional Development and Administration Liviu Dragnea, Bucharest mayor Sorin Oprescu, former transport minister Dan Şova, and Prime Minister Victor Ponta.
The DNA did not focus on members of the ruling party alone. Members of the opposition also found themselves under investigation. For example, George Scutaru, a former adviser to President Iohannis, was accused of taking bribes and money laundering.[103]
Following the indictment of an unprecedented number of politicians in office, the main political parties in Romania announced changes to their statutes in order to withdraw the membership of anyone convicted of criminal offenses.[104] In practice, however, both major parties disregarded these changes. PNL accepted the convicted former mayor of Râmnicu Vâlcea, Mircia Gutău, into its ranks,[105] while Dragnea, who resigned from all political and party offices after he was sentenced to probation for electoral fraud in May,[106] returned to PSD and ran as the sole candidate for its presidency in October,[107] after three other candidates withdrew.[108]
A recent analysis found that, at the local level, over 50 percent of DNA cases in which mayors or vice mayors were convicted for corruption involved EU funds.[109] In February, prosecutors arrested Elena Udrea,[110] former minister of regional development and tourism, who allegedly engaged in systematic influence peddling with her former husband under Băsescu’s presidency.[111] Udrea was charged with several abuses, including kickbacks that she and her team received from development funds distributed by her ministry. According to Kövesi, one of the files, the Bute Boxing Gala case, had been unlawfully listed as solved when she took office;[112] it was relisted in October.[113]
Prime Minister Ponta was initially charged in July and formally indicted in September for forgery, money laundering, conflict of interest, and tax evasion—deeds allegedly committed before his appointment to office. He resigned as head of PSD in July,[114] but remained prime minister until November, after the nightclub fire protests, despite repeated calls for his resignation from both President Iohannis and civil society.[115]
In spite of the increasing number of convictions and harsher sentences, some high-profile corruption convicts have abused a loophole in the law that allows them to reduce their prison time by publishing books while behind bars; most of the books in question are apparently plagiarized or ghostwritten.[116] The practice became so widespread in 2015 that calls were made to change the law.[117]
The authorities often fail to identify, seize, and recover the full value of illegally acquired assets, allowing those who are convicted of corruption to keep their wealth after serving their prison sentences. To help address this problem, Parliament voted in November to establish a new agency to manage confiscated goods and recover losses incurred by the state.[118] The law entered into force in December.

Notes:

Authors: Lucian Davidescu, Valentina Dimulescu, Andrei Macsut

This report was compiled by the research staff at the Romanian Academic Society (SAR) in Bucharest, with notable contributions by junior policy analyst Andrei Macsut, project coordinator Valentina Dimulescu and publications coordinator Lucian Davidescu.

[1] “Motivarea ICCJ privind anularea raportului de incompatibilitate în cazul lui Klaus Iohannis” [ICCJ reasoning regarding the annulment of the incompatibility report in the case of Klaus Iohannis], Digi24, 22 April 2015, http://www.digi24.ro/Stiri/Digi24/Actualitate/Justitie/Motivarea+ICCJ+privind+anularea+raportului+de+incompatibilitate+

[2] “Ordonanţe de urgenţă emise în anul 2015 de catre Guvern” [Emergency ordinances issued by the government in 2015], Chamber of Deputies website, http://www.cdep.ro/pls/legis/legis_pck.lista_anuala?an=2015&emi=3&tip=18&rep=0

[3] “Ordonanţe de urgenţă emise în anul 2014 de catre Guvern” [Emergency ordinances issued by the government in 2014], Chamber of Deputies website, http://www.cdep.ro/pls/legis/legis_pck.lista_anuala?an=2014&emi=3&tip=18&rep=0; “Ordonanţe de urgenţă emise în anul 2015 de catre Guvern” [Emergency ordinances issued by the government in 2013], Chamber of Deputies website, http://www.cdep.ro/pls/legis/legis_pck.lista_anuala?an=2013&emi=3&tip=18&rep=0&nrc=100

[4] Sorina Ionaşc, “De Bunavestire, DNA a cerut dezlegare la peştii mari din Senat. Vâlcov poate fi arestat, Şova a scăpat de procurori” [On Annunciation Day, DNA asks for dispensation for the big fish in the Senate. Vâlcov can be arrested, Şova escapes the prosecutors], Gândul, 25 March 2015, http://www.gandul.info/politica/de-bunavestire-dna-a-cerut-dezlegare-la-pestii-mari-din-senat-valcov-poate-fi-arestat-sova-a-scapat-de-procurori-14049458

[5] Iulia Roşca, “Senatul l-a salvat pentru a doua oara pe Dan Şova/ Cererea Justitiei de retinere si arestare a senatorului PSD a fost respinsa” [The Senate saves Dan Şova for the second time/ Justice’s request to detain and arrest the PSD senator has been rejected], HotNews, 2 June 2015, http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-20205289-ultima-ora-senatul-reia-azi-votul-cererea-justitiei-retinere-arestare-lui-dan-sova.htm

[6] By law, to allow the arrest of a member of Parliament, a vote of 50 percent plus one of all members in the person’s chamber is required. In practice, however, such requests had always been granted with the majority of those present for the vote. Şova’s case sparked outrage because the majority of those present did vote to allow for his arrest, yet the request was rejected on the grounds that it did not win approval from a majority of all members. Had the same rule been applied in past cases, many members would have avoided detention pending their trials. See Raluca Toma and Mihail Chiru, “A fost sau n-a fost? Validitatea votului pentru arestarea preventivă a Elenei Udrea” [Was it or wasn’t it? Validating the vote for the preventive arrest of Elena Udrea], Open Politics, http://www.openpolitics.ro/noutati/homepage/a-fost-sau-n-a-fost-validitatea-votului-pentru-arestarea-preventiva-elenei-udrea.html

[7] Ionela Marcu, “Moţiunea de cenzură PNL a picat. Victor Ponta rămâne premier” [PNL’s motion of no confidence has failed. Victor Ponta remains premier], Romania TV, 29 September 2015, http://www.romaniatv.net/momente-decisive-pentru-premierul-victor-ponta-la-10_247324.html#ixzz3okNEv5rB

[8] “Guvernul Cioloş a fost validat de Parlament” [The Cioloş government was validated by Parliament], Jurnalul, 17 November 2015, http://jurnalul.ro/stiri/politica/guvernul-ciolos-a-fost-validat-de-parlament-701315.html

[9] Iulia Rosca, “Cristina Guseth, aviz favorabil in Comisii pentru functia de Ministru al Justitiei: ‘In pofida acestei umilinte, raman sa duc Romania in structurile euroatlantice. Imi propun sa fac management pentru minister’” [Cristina Guseth, favorable opinion from the committees for the office of minister of justice: ‘In spite of this humiliation, I will stay to lead Romania into Euro-Atlantic structures. I want to make management for the ministry’], HotNews, 16 November 2015, http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-20597543-live-text-cristina-guseth-propusa-ministru-justitiei-audiata-comisiile-juridice-reunite.htm

[10] Diana Toea, “Dragnea, despre vulnerabilitatile ministrilor lui Cioloş si pe cine vede la Primaria Capitalei” [Dragnea on the vulnerabilities of Cioloş’s ministers and who he sees for mayor of the capital], Ziare.com, 29 November 2015, http://www.ziare.com/liviu-dragnea/presedinte-psd/dragnea-despre-vulnerabilitatile-ministrilor-lui-ciolos-si-pe-cine-vede-la-primaria-capitalei-1396277

[11] Mircea Marian, “Dragnea pune condiții guvernului Cioloș” [Dragnea sets terms for the Cioloş government], EVZ.ro, 24 November 2015, http://www.evz.ro/dragnea-pune-conditii-guvernului-ciolos.html

[12] “Deputy PM Dancu: Government to propose to EC updating of Strategy for Public Administration Consolidation,” Nine O’Clock, 6 December 2015, http://www.nineoclock.ro/deputy-pm-dancu-government-to-propose-to-ec-updating-of-strategy-for-public-administration-consolidation/

[13] Official Gazette of Romania, Year 182 (XXVI), No. 831 bis, Part I, 17 November 2014, http://www.mdrap.ro/userfiles/strategie_adm_publica.pdf

[14] “Digital Economy and Society Index: Romania,” European Commission, 2015, https://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/scoreboard/romania

[15] Roxana Damian, “‘Se dau’ 4 miliarde de lei. Schimbăm ceva cu ei în administrația publică sau doar îi cheltuim și raportăm că ‘s-a făcut reformă’?” [4 billion lei ‘are given away.’ Will we use them to change something in public administration or just spend it and report that ‘we’ve reformed’?], România Curată, 11 October 2015, http://www.romaniacurata.ro/se-dau-4-miliarde-de-lei-schimbam-ceva-cu-ei-in-administratia-publica-sau-doar-ii-cheltuim-si-raportam-ca-s-a-facut-reforma/

[16] Ştefan Pană, “Marele câştigător al traseismului politic. Cum a ajuns UNPR cheia schimbării majorităţii în Parlament” [The great winner of political migration. How UNPR became the key to changing the majority in Parliament], Gândul, 4 August 2015, http://www.gandul.info/politica/marele-castigator-al-traseismului-politic-cum-a-ajuns-unpr-cheia-schimbarii-majoritatii-in-parlament-14663864

[17] Mircea Kivu, “Ascensiunea UNPR poate fi opritǎ?” [Can the rise of UNPR be stopped?], România Liberă, 18 August 2015, http://www.romanialibera.ro/opinii/comentarii/ascensiunea-unpr-poate-fi-oprit%C7%8E--389714; Iulia Marin, “Legea nu-i Oprea. Cum a ajuns UNPR ‘mantaua’ aleşilor cu probleme penale” [The law is not Oprea. How UNPR became the ‘mantle’ of elected officials with criminal problems], PressOne, 27 September 2015, https://pressone.ro/legea-nu-i-oprea-cum-a-ajuns-unpr-mantaua-alesilor-cu-probleme-penale/

[18] Clarice Dinu, “Iohannis: ‘1.700 şi ceva, atâţia refugiaţi vor veni în România. Mai mulţi, nu’” [Iohannis: ‘1.700, that’s how many refugees will come to Romania. No more’”], Gândul, 07 September 2015, http://www.gandul.info/politica/iohannis-1-700-si-ceva-atatia-refugiati-vor-veni-in-romania-mai-multi-nu-14703635

[19] “Video exclusiv. Primele tabere pentru refugiaţi din România” [Exclusive video. The first refugee camps in Romania], Digi24, 20 September 2015, http://www.digi24.ro/Stiri/Digi24/Extern/EXODUL/VIDEO+Primele+corturi+pentru+refugiati+din+Romania

[20] “Exclusive! Primii refugiati au navalit in Romania, prin Timis. Unde au fost prinsi si ce le-au cerut politistilor de frontiera?” [Exclusive! The first refugees stormed into Romania through Timiş. Where were they caught and what did they ask the border police?], Opinia Timisoarei, 15 September 2015, http://www.opiniatimisoarei.ro/primii-refugiati-au-navalit-in-romania-prin-timis-unde-au-fost-prinsi-si-ce-le-au-cerut-politistilor-de-frontiera/15/09/2015

[21] “Cand vor ajunge primele familii de refugiati in Romania. Ponta: ‘Participam cu niste criterii, dar nu criterii de religie’” [When the first families of refugees will arrive in Romania. Ponta: ‘We participate with some criteria, but not criteria of religion’], PRO TV, 5 October 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/politic/premierul-despre-masurile-luate-pentru-primirea-refugiatilor-prin-legea-de-acum-alocam-3-lei-pe-zi.html; “Immigration: How asylum seekers are received in Romania,” Agerpres, 28 August 2015, http://www.agerpres.ro/english/2015/08/28/immigration-how-asylum-seekers-are-received-in-romania-14-58-02

[22] Mihai Diac, “Statele Unite pot trimite soldați în România în număr nelimitat” [The United States can send an unlimited number of troops to Romania], România Liberă, 01 April 2015, http://www.romanialibera.ro/actualitate/eveniment/statele-unite-pot-trimite-soldati-in-romania-in-numar-nelimitat-373386

[23] Sorina Ionaşc, “Legea partidelor politice a trecut de Senat. Partidele vor putea fi înfiinţate cu doar trei membri fondatori” [The law on political parties passes the Senate. Parties can be founded with only three members], Gândul, 22 April 2015, http://www.gandul.info/politica/legea-partidelor-politice-a-trecut-de-senat-partidele-vor-putea-fi-infiintate-cu-doar-trei-membri-fondatori-14137258

[24] “Campanii electorale cu bani decontați de stat. Alte propuneri ale Comisiei de Cod Electoral” [Electoral campaigns reimbursed by the state. Other proposals of the Electoral Code Commission], Digi24, 5 March 2015, http://www.digi24.ro/Stiri/Digi24/Actualitate/Politica/Campanii+electorale+cu+bani+decontati+de+stat+Alte+propuneri+ale

[25] “Monitorizarea înregistrării noilor partide politice” [Monitoring the registration of new political parties], Center for Public Innovation, 15 January 2016, http://www.inovarepublica.ro/monitorizarea-inregistrarii-noilor-partide-politice/

[26] Alina Novaceanu, “Legea alegerilor locale, modificată: Primarii, aleşi într-un singur tur. Preşedinţii CJ, aleşi de către membrii CJ” [The law on local elections, as modified: Mayors elected in one round. County Council presidents elected by County Council members], Mediafax, 6 May 2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/politic/legea-alegerilor-locale-modificata-primarii-alesi-intr-un-singur-tur-presedintii-cj-alesi-de-catre-membrii-cj-14217955

[27] Andra Dolana, “Aproape 40 de ONG-uri cer modificarea legii alegerilor locale: ‘Vrem primari aleși în două tururi!’” [Almost 40 NGOs demand changes to the law on local elections: ‘We want mayors elected in two rounds!’], România Liberă, 29 April 2015, http://www.romanialibera.ro/actualitate/eveniment/aproape-40-de-ong-uri-protesteaza---vrem-primari-alesi-in-doua-tururi---376664; George Jiglau and Gabriel Badescu, “De ce ar trebui sa alegem primarii in doua tururi de scrutin” [Why we should elect our mayors in two rounds], Cogitus, 4 April 2015, http://www.cogitus.ro/administratie/de-ce-ar-trebui-sa-alegem-primarii-in-doua-tururi-de-scrutin

[28] Alina Novaceanu, “PNL depune miercuri proiectul alegerii primarilor în două tururi de scrutin” [On Wednesday, PNL will submit bill for electing mayors in two rounds], Mediafax, 22 September 2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/politic/pnl-depune-miercuri-proiectul-alegerii-primarilor-in-doua-tururi-de-scrutin-14737294

[29] Valentina Postelnicu, “Preşedintele Iohannis a promulgat legea privind finanţarea partidelor şi campaniilor electorale” [President Iohannis has promulgated the law on financing parties and electoral campaigns], Mediafax, 16 May 2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/politic/presedintele-iohannis-a-promulgat-legea-privind-finantarea-partidelor-si-campaniilor-electorale-14277048

[30] Anca Simina, “Zece SCHIMBĂRI prin care noua lege a finanţării bagă bani de la stat în conturile partidelor. Cât ar fi putut deconta de la buget prezidenţiabilii în 2014” [Ten changes through which the new law of financing puts public money in the accounts of parties. How much the presidential candidates could have been reimbursed by the state in 2014], Gândul, 9 March 2015, http://www.gandul.info/banii-tai/zece-schimbari-prin-care-noua-lege-a-finantarii-baga-bani-de-la-stat-in-conturile-partidelor-cat-ar-fi-putut-deconta-de-la-buget-prezidentiabilii-in-2014-13951139

[31] “Iohannis a promulgat legea privind alegerile parlamentare” [Iohannis has promulgated the law on parliamentary elections], Mediafax, 20 July 2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/politic/iohannis-a-promulgat-legea-privind-alegerile-parlamentare-14617338

[32] An ample debate organized by the Romanian Academic Society and the Advocacy Academy gathered over 150 depositions in favor of or against e-voting and correspondence voting, which were analyzed by a panel of experts. The conclusions, which are publicly available, were sent to all relevant stakeholders, including decision makers. See http://advocacy.ro/node/16533/subpage/16818#vitrina

[33] Adina Florea, “Proiectul de lege privind votul prin corespondenta a prins viteza in Comisia de cod electoral/Autoritatea Electorala Permanenta urmeaza sa prezinte marti o prima forma a legii” [The bill on correspondence voting is gaining speed in the Electoral Code Commission/ The Permanent Electoral Authority will present a first draft of the law on Tuesday], HotNews, 12 October 2015, http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-20498619-proiectul-lege-privind-votul-prin-corespondenta-prins-viteza-comisia-cod-electoral-autoritatea-electorala-permanenta-urmeaza-prezinte-marti-prima-forma-legii.htm

[34] Andrei Tiut and Codru Vrabie, “Legea votului prin corespondenta: un model de esec in legiferare” [Correspondence voting law: an example of legislative failure], Politica fara Bariere, 2 November 2015, https://politicafarabariere.wordpress.com/2015/11/02/votul-prin-corespondenta-esec-legiferare/

[35] Catiusa Ivanov, “Societatea civila cere presedintelui Klaus Iohannis sa trimita proiectul Legii partidelor la Curtea Constitutionala” [Civil society asks president Klaus Iohannis to send the bill on political parties to the Constitutional Court], HotNews, 11 May 2015, http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-administratie_locala-20113346-societatea-civila-cere-presedintelui-klaus-iohannis-trimita-proiectul-legii-partidelor-curtea-constitutionala.htm

[36] Andrei Luca Popescu, “Proteste faţă de defrişările din România. Klaus Iohannis: ‘Cred că protestul de astăzi este perfect legitim’” [Protest against logging in Romania. Klaus Iohannis: ‘I think today’s protest is perfectly legitimate’], Gândul, 9 May 2015, http://www.gandul.info/stiri/proteste-fata-de-defrisarile-din-romania-klaus-iohannis-cred-ca-protestul-de-astazi-este-perfect-legitim-14234300

[37] Andra Dolana, “Codul Silvic, aprobat de deputaţi fără amendamentele propuse de PNL” [Forest code approved by deputies without amendments proposed by PNL], România Liberă, 20 May 2015, http://www.romanialibera.ro/politica/institutii/codul-silvic--pe-masa-deputatilor-378957

[38] Cătălin Lupăşteanu and Andrei Dumitrescu, “Gabriel Oprea ar putea fi cercetat penal în dosarul morţii poliţistului Bogdan Gigină. Parchetul General a preluat Ancheta” [Gabriel Oprea might be investigated in the death of police officer Bogdan Gigină. The general prosecutor has taken over the investigation], Gândul, 4 November 2015, http://www.gandul.info/stiri/gabriel-oprea-ar-putea-fi-cercetat-penal-in-dosarul-mortii-politistului-bogdan-gigina-parchetul-general-a-preluat-ancheta-14873522

[39] “#Colectiv. Bilanțul a crescut la 63 de morți” [#Colectiv. Death toll reaches 63], Digi24, 21 December 2015, http://www.digi24.ro/Stiri/Digi24/Actualitate/Social/Colectiv+Bilantul+a+crescut+la+63+de+morti

[40] Elvira Gheorghita, “Sute de persoane, şi luni la Centrul de Transfuzie din Capitală. Coada ajunge până în Piaţa Victoriei” [Hundreds of people at the transfusion center in capital on Monday as well. Line stretches to Victoriei Square], Mediafax, 2 November 2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/social/sute-de-persoane-si-luni-la-centrul-de-transfuzie-din-capitala-coada-ajunge-pana-in-piata-victoriei-14870524; Florentina Peia and Florin Marin, “Voluntari, firme, psihologi își oferă sprijinul pentru victimele incendiului” [Volunteers, firms, psychologists offer their support for the fire victims], Agerpres, 1 November 2015, http://www.agerpres.ro/social/2015/11/01/voluntari-firme-psihologi-isi-ofera-sprijinul-pentru-victimele-incendiului-16-25-57

[41] Alex Mihaileanu, “Fotogalerie: Peste 12.000 de bucuresteni au venit la complexul Pionierul pentru un ultim omagiu adus victimelor carnagiului din clubul Colectiv” [Photogallery: Over 12,000 people in Bucharest came to the Pionierul complex to pay their respects to victims of Colectiv club carnage], HotNews, 1 November 2015, http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-20548204-fotogalerie-peste-12-000-bucuresteni-venit-complexul-pionierul-pentru-ultim-omagiu-adus-victimelor-carnagiului-din-clubul-colectiv.htm

[42] Mihai Goţiu, “De ce ne mor tinerii în Colectiv” [Why our youth dies in Colectiv], România Curată, 1 November 2015, http://www.romaniacurata.ro/de-ce-ne-mor-tinerii-in-colectiv/

[43] Peter Henn, “Thousands protest to demand government resignations over deadly Romania nightclub fire,” Express, 3 November 2015, http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/616799/Romanian-nightclub-fire-Colectiv-protests-Bucharest

[44] R. M., “Cum arata demisia lui Victor Ponta” [What Victor Ponta’s resignation looks like], HotNews, 4 November 2015, http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-20557987-foto-cum-arata-demisia-lui-victor-ponta.htm

[45] “Revolutia, ziua a doua. Zeci de mii de romani striga in strada ca, de data aceasta, o demisie sau doua nu sunt de ajuns” [The revolution, day two. Tens of thousands of Romanians are shouting on the streets that, this time, one or two resignations are not enough], România Curată, 4 November 2015, http://www.romaniacurata.ro/revolutia-ziua-a-doua-zeci-de-mii-de-romani-striga-in-strada-ca-de-data-aceasta-o-demisie-sau-doua-nu-sunt-de-ajuns/; Cătălin Lupăşteanu and Ana-Maria Lazăr, “Noi proteste în Bucureşti: 30.000 de oameni au manifestat în centrul Capitalei. Protestul s-a încheiat după şase ore. Aproximativ 200 de români au manifestat şi la Paris” [New protests in Bucharest: 30,000 people gather in center of capital. Protest ended after six hours. Approximately 200 Romanians also protested in Paris], Mediafax, 4 November 2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/social/noi-proteste-in-bucuresti-30-000-de-oameni-au-manifestat-in-centrul-capitalei-protestul-s-a-incheiat-dupa-sase-ore-aproximativ-200-de-romani-au-manifestat-si-la-paris-foto-video-14874216

[46] Mediafax, “Iohannis: Voi merge în Piaţă, nu voi anunţa nici ora, nici ziua. Cine este societatea civilă chemată la consultările de la Cotroceni” [Iohannis: I will go to the square, I will announce neither the time, nor the day. Who is the civil society called for consultation to Cotroceni], Gândul, 6 November 2015, http://www.gandul.info/stiri/iohannis-voi-merge-in-piata-nu-voi-anunta-nici-ora-nici-ziua-cine-este-societatea-civila-chemata-la-consultarile-de-la-cotroceni-14876561

[47] Andrei Dumitrescu, “Protest #Colectiv ZIUA 6. Klaus Iohannis a venit în Piaţa Universităţii” [#Colectiv protest, day 6. Klaus Iohannis came to University Square], Gândul, 9 November 2015, http://www.gandul.info/stiri/protest-colectiv-ziua-6-klaus-iohannis-a-venit-in-piata-universitatii-14878555

[48] Anita Sobják, “A #Colectiv Responsibility to Fight Corruption: Romania’s Nightclub Fire Protests Singe the System,” Polish Institute of International Affairs Bulletin, 13 November 2015, http://www.pism.pl/files/?id_plik=20906

[49] Marilena Andrei and Ovidiu Voicu, “Activitatea Grupurilor Civice Informale în România” [The activity of informal civic groups in Romania], Open Society Foundation, 4 August 2015, http://www.fundatia.ro/raport-activitatea-grupurilor-informale-civice-%C3%AEn-rom%C3%A2nia

[50] “Peste 80% dintre ONG-urile din România nu au aplicat vreodată pentru finanţare” [Over 80 percent of NGOs in Romania have never applied for grants], Capital, 13 July 2015, http://www.capital.ro/peste-80-dintre-ong-urile-din-romania-nu-au-aplicat-vreodata-pentru-finantare.html

[51] “Indexul sustenabilităţii organizaţiilor societăţii civile 2014—România” [Civil society organization sustainability index 2014—Romania], Civil Society Development Foundation, June 2015, http://www.fdsc.ro/library/files/romania+.pdf

[52] “Primele măsuri spre deschiderea competiției politice” [The first measures toward opening up political competition], Politics without Borders, 8 May 2015, https://politicafarabariere.wordpress.com/2015/05/08/comunicat-de-presa-primele-masuri-spre-deschiderea-competitiei-politice/; “Votul la distanță: da, dar nu oricum” [Long-distance voting: yes, but not howsoever], Politics without Borders, 8 July 2015, https://politicafarabariere.wordpress.com/2015/07/08/votul-la-distanta-da-dar-nu-oricum/; “Punctul de vedere al Campaniei Politicǎ fǎrǎ Bariere despre Proiectul de Lege privind alegerea Camerei Deputaţilor şi a Senatului, precum şi pentru organizarea şi funcţionarea Autorităţii Electorale Permanente” [Point of view of the Politics without Borders campaign regarding the bill for the election of the Chambers of Deputies and Senate, as well as the organization and functioning of the Permanent Electoral Authority], Politics without Borders, 3 June 2015, https://politicafarabariere.wordpress.com/2015/06/03/punctul-de-vedere-al-campaniei-politica-fara-bariere-despre-proiectul-de-lege-privind-alegerea-camerei-deputatilor-si-a-senatului-precum-si-pentru-organizarea-si-functionarea-autoritatii-electorale-p/

[53] “Ponta: Nu poate doar statul să ajute la integrarea refugiaţilor, e nevoie de implicarea societăţii” [Ponta: Not just the state should help integrate the refugees, society’s involvement is needed], Adevărul, 2 October 2015, http://adevarul.ro/news/politica/ponta-nu-doar-statul-ajute-integrarea-refugiatilor-e-nevoie-implicarea-societatii-1_560e42d5f5eaafab2c3b946d/index.html

[54] “Cioloş a cerut ca noul minister pentru Consultare Publică şi Dialog Civic să fie organizat ‘în termenul cel mai scurt’” [Cioloş required that the new ministry be organized as soon as possible], Mediafax, 19 November 2015 http://www.mediafax.ro/politic/ciolos-a-cerut-ca-noul-minister-pentru-consultare-publica-si-dialog-civic-sa-fie-organizat-in-termenul-cel-mai-scurt-14892531

[55] Filip Stan, “Cristina Guseth a fost retrasă de la Ministerul Justiţiei. Dacian Cioloş a făcut anunţul pe Facebook” [Cristina Guseth was withdrawn from the Ministry of Justice. Dacian Cioloş made the announcement on Facebook], Romania TV, 17 November 2015, http://www.romaniatv.net/cristina-guseth-a-fost-retrasa-de-la-ministerul-justitiei-dacian-ciolos-a-facut-anuntul-pe-facebook_257341.html

[56] “Seful de cabinet al Ancai Dragu, adus de la Viena unde a lucrat pentru Erste. Vlad Voiculescu este initiatorul Retelei citostaticelor care aducea cu voluntari medicamente pe care nu le gaseau bolnavii din Romania” [Chief of cabinet of Anca Dragu was brought from Vienna where he worked for Erste. Vlad Voiculescu is the initiator of the cytostatic drugs network that brings medicine unavailable in Romania on a voluntary basis], HotNews, 25 December 2015, http://economie.hotnews.ro/stiri-finante-20688551-seful-cabinet-ancai-dragu-adus-viena-unde-lucrat-pentru-erste-vlad-voiculescu-este-implicat-proiecte-sociale.htm

[57] “Dezbaterea publică pe buget: Societatea civilă, nemulţumită de aprobarea proiectului de buget înaintea consultărilor” [Public debate regarding the budget: Civil society unsatisfied by decision to approve budget before public consultation], Obiectiv.info, 9 December 2015, http://www.obiectiv.info/dezbaterea-publica-pe-buget-societatea-civila-nemultumita-de-aprobarea-proiectului-de-buget-inaintea-consultarilor_87331.html#n

[58] “Audit tiraje—Cifre de difuzare” [Audit broadcast circulation—broadcasting figures], Romanian Bureau for Transmedia Auditing (BRAT), 6 December 2015, http://www.brat.ro/audit-tiraje/cifre-de-difuzare/

[59] “Nu mai vorbiți de rău partidele politice! De fapt, nu mai vorbiți deloc! Veți fi amendați cu până la 60.000 de lei! Legea lui Dragnea” [Do not speak ill of political parties! In fact, do not speak at all! You will be fined up to 60,000 lei! Dragnea’s law], România Curată, 7 October 2015, http://www.romaniacurata.ro/nu-mai-vorbiti-de-rau-partidele-politice-de-fapt-nu-mai-vorbiti-veti-fi-amendati-cu-pana-la-60-000-de-lei-legea-lui-dragnea/

[60] Liviu Dragnea, “Proiect de Lege privind promovarea demnităţii umane şi toleranţei faţă de diferenţele de grup” [Proposed law with regard to the promotion of human dignity and tolerance toward group differences], Chamber of Deputies, 12 October 2015, http://www.cdep.ro/pls/proiecte/upl_pck2015.proiect?cam=2&idp=15191

[61] “Inițiativa legislativă a domnului Dragnea aprobată de Senat: o lipsă cronică de înțelegere a fenomenului discriminării” [Dragnea’s bill was approved by the Senate: a chronic lack of understanding of the discrimination phenomenon], România Curată, 9 October 2015, http://www.romaniacurata.ro/initiativa-legislativa-a-domnului-dragnea-aprobata-de-senat-o-lipsa-cronica-de-intelegere-a-fenomenului-discriminarii/

[62] Manuela Preoteasa and Andrei Schwartz, “Press freedom in Romania: The success story of imprisoned media owners,” Euractiv, 11 September 2015, http://www.euractiv.com/sections/infosociety/media-freedom-romania-success-story-imprisoned-media-owners-317560

[63] Petrişor Obae, “Insolvenţa Mediafax. Cine are de recuperat bani de la compania lui Adrian Sârbu. ING, ANAF, proprietarul sediului, dar și Orlando Nicoară, în topul creditorilor” [Mediafax insolvency. Who has money to recover from Adrian Sârbu’s company. ING, ANAF, the headquarters’ owner but also Orlando Nicoară top the list of creditors], Paginademedia, 30 March 2015, http://www.paginademedia.ro/2015/03/insolventa-mediafax-cine-are-de-recuperat-bani-de-la-compania-lui-adrian-sarbu-ing-anaf-proprietarul-sediului-dar-si-orlando-nicoara-in-topul-creditorilor/

[64] Mirela Neag and Cătălin Tolontan, “Rechizitoriul Galei Bute: ‘Am interceptat emailuri care arată cum Udrea elimina știri din presă prin intermediul lui Breazu!’” [Indictment in the Bute Gala case: ‘We intercepted emails that show how Udrea eliminated news reports through Breazu!’], Tolo.ro, 21 April 2015, http://www.tolo.ro/2015/04/21/rechizitoriul-gala-bute-am-interceptat-emailuri-care-arata-cum-udrea-elimina-stiri-din-presa-prin-intermediul-lui-breazu/

[65] Cătălin Tolontan, “Procurorii au găsit texte antisemite și homofobe date postacilor lui Udrea ca să le împrăștie” [Prosecutors found anti-Semitic and homophobic texts given to Udrea’s commenters to spread], Tolo.ro, 19 October 2015, http://www.tolo.ro/2015/10/19/procurorii-au-gasit-texte-antisemite-si-homofobe-date-postacilor-lui-udrea-ca-sa-le-imprastie/

[66] “CEDO condamnă România” [European Court of Human Rights condemns Romania], Legal Land, 7 July 2015, http://www.legal-land.ro/cedo-condamna-romania-7-iulie-2015/

[67] G. S., “Seful publicatiei ‘Atac de Buzau,’ Florin Paraschivescu, si Doru Iuga, fost director al OTV, retinuti pentru santaj. Plangerile ar fi fost depuse de primari si de oameni de afaceri” [Chief of ‘Atac de Buzau,’ Florin Paraschivescu, and Doru Iorga, former OTV director, detained for blackmail. Complaints were filed by mayors and businesspeople], HotNews, 17 October 2015, http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-20510735-seful-publicatiei-atac-buzau-florin-paraschivescu-doru-iuga-fost-director-otv-retinuti-pentru-santaj-plangerile-fost-depuse-primari-oameni-afaceri.htm

[68] Dănuţ Zuzeac, “Caz fără precedent în România: primar arestat, consiliu local dizolvat, secretar lipsă. Oraşul Rădăuţi nu mai poate fi condus” [Unprecedented case in Romania: arrested mayor, dissolved local council, missing secretary. Rădăuţi town can no longer be led], Adevărul, 27 April 2015, http://adevarul.ro/locale/suceava/blocaj-administrativ-unic-romania-primar-arestat-consiliu-local-dizolvat-secretar-delegat-capat-provizorat-orasul-radauti-nu-mai-condus-1_553e0a71cfbe376e3599a9ee/index.html

[69] Law no. 215 of 2001 on local public administration and Law no. 67 of 2004 on electing local public administration authorities.

[70] V. M., “PNL: O noua decizie a instantei obliga Guvernul sa organizeze alegeri partiale” [PNL: A new court decision obliges the government to organize local elections], HotNews.ro, 27 May 2015, http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-20193499-pnl-noua-decizie-instantei-obliga-guvernul-organizeze-alegeri-partiale.htm

[71] Tibi Bujdei, “Situaţie incredibilă la primăria Rădăuţi, care nu a avut conducere timp de o lună. Cum a ajuns un secretar dintr-o comună să se ocupe de treburile interne” [Incredible situation in Rădăuţi town hall, which had no leadership for a month], Gândul, 29 May 2015, http://www.gandul.info/stiri/situatie-incredibila-la-primaria-radauti-care-nu-a-avut-conducere-timp-de-o-luna-cum-a-ajuns-un-secretar-dintr-o-comuna-sa-se-ocupe-de-treburile-interne-14362781

[72] Clarice Dinu, “Cum şi-a ‘Şters Urmele’ Ponta printr-o ordonanţă, după ce trei instanţe au decis că a încălcat legea” [How Ponta ‘covered up his tracks’ with an emergency ordinance, after three courts of law decided he broke the law], Gândul, 3 October 2015, http://www.gandul.info/politica/cum-si-a-sters-urmele-ponta-printr-o-ordonanta-dupa-ce-trei-instante-au-decis-ca-a-incalcat-legea-14786682?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gandul%2FMJcu+%28Gandul%29

[73] “Proiect: Aleşii locali care au fost condamnaţi cu suspendare nu-şi mai pierd mandatul” [Project: Local elected officials who receive suspended sentences will no longer lose their mandates], Mediafax, 18 August 2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/politic/proiect-alesii-locali-care-au-fost-condamnati-cu-suspendare-nu-si-mai-pierd-mandatul-14680161

[74] One proposal was rejected by both chambers; another was pending in the Senate, after it was rejected in the Chamber of Deputies. See http://www.cdep.ro/pls/proiecte/upl_pck2015.proiect?cam=2&idp=15018

[75] Alina Novaceanu, “Camera a respins OUG 55, dar aleşii care au migrat, ca efect al său, îşi vor păstra mandatele” [The chamber has rejected Government Emergency Ordinance 55, but elected officials who migrated due to it keep their mandates], Mediafax, 25 February 2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/politic/camera-a-respins-oug-55-dar-alesii-care-au-migrat-ca-efect-al-sau-isi-vor-pastra-mandatele-13892622

[76] Iulia Rosca, “O mica victorie pentru Strada: Consilierii traseisti care au migrat de la un partid la altul in baza Ordonantei Dragnea isi pierd mandatele, iar primarii revin automat la partidele din care au plecat—comisia juridica din Senat [A small victory for the Street: Councilors who migrated from one party to another based on the Dragnea ordinance lose their mandates, and mayors automatically return to the parties they left from—judicial committee of the Senate], HotNews, 10 November 2015, http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-20576629-consilierii-care-migrat-partid-altul-baza-ordonantei-traseismului-isi-pierd-mandatele-primarii-revin-automat-partidele-din-care-plecat-comisia-juridica-din-senat.htm

[77] Sorin Ioniţă, “Iohannis, afară şi cu primarii, nu doar consilierii locali!” [Iohannis, out with mayors too, not just local councilors!], Contributors, 11 November 2015, http://www.contributors.ro/administratie/iohannis-afara-cu-primarii/#comment-261588

[78] “Proiect de lege privind aprobarea Ordonanţei de urgenţã a Guvernului nr.55/2014 pentru reglementarea unor măsuri privind administraţia publică locală” [Draft bill regarding the approval of Government Emergency Ordinance no. 55/2014 concerning the regulation of certain measures pertaining to local public administration], Senate, http://www.senat.ro/legis/lista.aspx?nr_cls=L617&an_cls=2014

[79] I. Rosca, “Programul de guvernare al guvernului Ciolos: Plan de investitii pe zece ani, proiect de reindustrializare, reducerea migratiei doctorilor, reducerea birocratiei pentru profesori, crearea unei scoli superioare pentru functionari” [Government program of the Cioloş government: Ten-year investment plan, reindustrialization project, reducing migration of doctors, reducing bureaucracy for teachers, creating a superior school for civil servants], HotNews, 16 November 2015, http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-20595567-document-programul-guvernare-guvernului-ciolos-acest-guvern-nu-poate-angajeze-toate-fronturile-reforma-dar-isi-asuma-masuri-concrete-impact-relevanta-sistemica.htm

[80] “Programul de guvernare al Guvernului României—Prim-ministru Dacian Cioloş” [Governing program of the Government of Romania—Prime Minister Dacian Cioloş], Government of Romania, http://gov.ro/fisiere/pagini_fisiere/Programul-de-guvernare-al-Guvernului_Romaniei-Prim-ministru-Dacian-Ciolos%28Monitorul_Oficial%29.pdf

[81] Horaţiu Pepine, “Cum poate fi aservita Justitia” [How justice cam be subdued], Deutsche Welle, 26 September 2015, http://www.dw.com/ro/cum-poate-fi-aservit%C4%83-justi%C5%A3ia/a-17954452

[82] I. R., “Laura Codruţa Kövesi a dat in judecata Antena 3, pe Mihai Gadea si alti patru jurnalisti si analisti si cere daune de 1 milion de lei. Kövesi anunta ca va dona banii in scopuri caritabile” [Laura Codruţa Kövesi sued Antena 3, Mihai Gadea, and four other journalists and analysts, and demanded damages of 1 million lei. Kövesi said she would donate the money to charity], HotNews, 15 June 2014, http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-17550920-laura-Codruţa-Kövesi-dat-judecata-antena-3-cere-daune-250-000.htm

[83] “A început procesul dintre Kövesi şi Antena 3 [The trial between Kövesi and Antena 3 has begun], Comisarul, 13 January 2015, http://www.comisarul.ro/politic/exclusiv/a-inceput-procesul-dintre-kovesi-si-anten_334051.html

[84] I. R., “Laura Codruţa Kövesi a câștigat procesul cu Antena 3” [Laura Codruţa Kövesi won the lawsuit against Antena 3], Digi24, 16 October 2015, http://www.digi24.ro/Stiri/Digi24/Actualitate/Justitie/Procesul+Kovesi+Antena3+aproape+de+final

[85] Andrei Luca Popescu, “Legile Big Brother pe înţelesul tuturor: cum a vrut SRI să devină o superputere şi momentul în care George Maior s-a lovit de Daniel Morar” [The Big Brother Laws explained: How SRI wanted to become a superpower and the moment George Maior encountered Daniel Morar], Gândul, 27 January 2015, http://www.gandul.info/stiri/legile-big-brother-pe-intelesul-tuturor-cum-a-vrut-sri-sa-devina-o-superputere-si-momentul-in-care-george-maior-s-a-lovit-de-daniel-morar-13789145

[86] Paul Filimon, “Președintele Iohannis a promulgat Legea Big Brother” [President Iohannis promulgates the Big Brother Law], România Liberă, 9 October 2015, http://www.romanialibera.ro/politica/institutii/presedintele-iohannis-a-promulgat--legea-big-brother-395877

[87] “Traian Băsescu, atac la comisiile parlamentare” [Traian Băsescu, attack on the parliamentary committees], Digi24, 25 May 2015, http://www.digi24.ro/Stiri/Digi24/Actualitate/Stiri/Traian+Basescu+atac+la+comisiile+parlamentare

[88] Anca Simina, Cristian Delcea, and Mihai Voinea, “Interviu Daniel Morar, judecător CCR: ‘Ameninţările SRI la adresa Curţii Constituţionale au depăşit cadrul legal. Aşa ceva nu se întâmplă într-o ţară civilizată’” [Interview Daniel Morar, CCR justice: ‘SRI’s threats to the Constitutional Court have overstepped the legal bounds. Something like this does not happen in a civilized country’], Adevărul, 4 June 2015, http://adevarul.ro/news/societate/interviu-daniel-morar-judecator-ccr-amenintarile-sri-adresa-curtii-constitutionale-depasit-cadrul-legal-asa-e-neacceptat-intr-o-tara-civilizata-1_556f20d3cfbe376e35e4060f/index.html

[89] Cosmin Prelipceanu, “Interviu Laura Codruţa Kövesi, procuror sef DNA: ‘Noi avem propriul serviciu in cadrul DNA care poate sa puna in aplicare autorizatiile de interceptare prin intermediul SRI […] SRI nu are access la continutul interceptarilor’” [Interview Laura Codruţa Kövesi, DNA chief prosecutor: ‘We have our own technical service, which can apply the wiretapping warrants through SRI … SRI does not have access to the contents’], Digi24, 8 April 2015, http://www.digi24.ro/Emisiuni/Digi24/Jurnalul+de+Seara/Arhiva+inregistrari/Jurnalul+de+seara+-+8+aprilie+2015

[90] Madalina Cochinescu, “UPDATE Kovesi: Din 4.200 de dosare la DNA, 24-deschise anul acesta ca urmare a sesizărilor SRI și 204-urmare sesizărilor MAI’ [UPDATE Kovesi: Out of 4.200 cases filed in 2015 at the DNA, 24 were referred to us from the SRI and 204 from the MAI], Agerpres, 24 September 2015, http://www.agerpres.ro/justitie/2015/09/24/kovesi-din-4-200-de-dosare-la-dna-24-deschise-anul-acesta-ca-urmare-a-sesizarilor-sri-si-204-urmare-sesizarilor-mai-21-45-34

[91] Alex Costache, “Mărirea și căderea procurorilor. Anchetele lor au dus la condamnarea unor ‘intangibili’ din politică și afaceri. Dar s-a dovedit că nici ei nu sunt intangibili [The rise and fall of prosecutors. Their investigations led to convictions of political and business ‘untouchables.’ But it has been proven that they are not untouchable either], România Curată, 5 October 2015, http://www.romaniacurata.ro/ce-au-fost-si-ce-au-ajuns-procurorii-care-au-anchetat-grei-din-politica-si-afaceri-unii-in-arest-altii-au-urcat-profesional/

[92] Georgiana Iorgulescu, “CRJ susține solicitările UNJR, AMR şi APR” [CJR supports UNJR, AMR, and APR claims], Centre for Legal Resources, 20 May 2015, http://www.crj.ro/crj-sustine-solicitarile-unjr-amr-si-apr/#_ftn1

[93] I. C., “Judecatorul Horatius Dumbrava a propus ca presedintele Iohannis sa medieze conflictul dintre magistrati si SRI privind posibila implicare a Serviciului in justitie” [Justice Horatius Dumbrava proposed that President Iohannis should mediate the conflict between magistrates and the SRI regarding the possible involvement of the service in justice], HotNews, 26 May 2015, http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-20189453-judecatorul-horatius-dumbrava-propus-presedintele-iohannis-medieze-conflictul-dintre-magistrati-sri-privind-posibila-implicare-serviciului-justitie.htm

[94] “Peste 1000 de magistrați solicită CSM să efectueze demersuri pentru eliminarea probei interviului pentru promovarea în funcția de judecător la ICCJ și pentru adoptarea procedurii revocării membrilor CSM” [Over 1,000 magistrates request that CSM take steps to eliminate the interview round for being promoted justice of ICCJ and for adopting the procedure to dismiss CSM members], Juridice.ro, 14 October 2015, http://www.juridice.ro/404113/peste-1000-de-magistrati-solicita-csm-sa-efectueze-demersuri-pentru-eliminarea-probei-interviului-pentru-promovarea-in-functia-de-judecator-la-iccj-si-pentru-adoptarea-procedurii-revocarii-membrilor-c.html

[95] Dragoş Călin, “CSM pregăteşte cel mai mare experiment judiciar—test de rezistenţă a sistemului de justiţie la metehnele anilor ’90” [CSM is preparing the largest judicial experiment—test of resistance for the justice system to the bad habits of the ’90s], Juridice.ro, 27 October 2015, http://www.juridice.ro/405990/csm-pregateste-cel-mai-mare-experiment-judiciar-test-de-rezistenta-a-sistemului-de-justitie-la-metehnele-anilor-90.html

[96] V. M., “Raport CSM: Noile dispozitii in materie penala nu au avut intotdeauna un impact social benefic/ O reevaluare a noilor coduri este necesara ca urmare a multiplelor decizii ale Curtii Constitutionale [CSM report: The new penal provisions did not always have a positive social impact/ A reassessment of the new codes is necessary as a result of multiple Constitutional Court rulings], HotNews, 19 September 2015, http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-20436925-raport-csm-noile-dispozitii-materie-penala-nu-avut-intotdeauna-impact-social-benefic.htm

[97] The dispute referred to both the penal code and the penal procedure code. See: “CSM critică dur noile Coduri penale” [CSM harshly criticizes the new penal codes], Digi24, 19 September 2015, http://www.digi24.ro/Stiri/Digi24/Actualitate/Stiri/CSM+critica+dur+noile+Coduri+penale

[98] “Indicele de performanţă al instanţelor” [Court of Law Performance Index 2015], Funky Citizens, 2015, http://www.funkycitizens.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Indicele-de-performanta-complet_2015.pdf

[99] “PL-x nr. 333/2015—Proiect de lege pentru modificarea art. 301 si art. 308 din Legea nr. 286/2009 privind Codul penal” [PL-x no. 333/2015—Draft law on the modification of art. 301 and art. 308 from Law no. 286/2009 on the Penal Code], http://www.cdep.ro/pls/proiecte/upl_pck.proiect?idp=14849

[100] Dan Tapalaga, “Lege cu dedicatie pentru baroni si parlamentari. DNA: Dezincriminarea conflictului de interese ar putea afecta in mod serios activitatea de combatere a coruptiei la nivel inalt/S-ar pronunta achitarea unor incuplati déjà trimisi in judecata” [Tailor made law for local barons and MP. DNA: Decriminalization of conflict of interest could seriously affect work to combat high-level corruption/ Would pronounce acquittal of those already prosecuted], HotNews, 26 May 2015, http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-20188813-lege-dedicatie-pentru-baroni-dna-dezincriminarea-conflictului-interese-putea-afecta-mod-serios-activitatea-combatere-coruptiei-nivel-inalt-pronunta-achitarea-unor-inculpati-deja-trimisi-judecata.htm

[101] Catalin Lupasteanu, “Dosarul Mineriadei: Ion Iliescu, urmărit penal pentru infracţiuni contra umanităţii” [The Mineriad file: Ion Iliescu indicted for crimes against humanity], Mediafax, 21 October 2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/politic/dosarul-mineriadei-ion-iliescu-urmarit-penal-pentru-infractiuni-contra-umanitatii-foto-video-14856563

[102] Livia Ispas, “Dosarul Revoluţiei din decembrie 1989 a fost clasat. PICCJ: Din cauza oboselii şi stresului, la revoluţie s-au tras focuri de armă între militari” [The case of the 1989 Revolution was closed. PICCJ: Due to fatigue and stress, gunshots between the military were fired], Mediafax, 23 October 2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/social/dosarul-revolutiei-din-decembrie-1989-a-fost-clasat-piccj-din-cauza-oboselii-si-stresului-la-revolutie-s-au-tras-focuri-de-arma-intre-militari-video-14859770

[103] G. S., “DNA a inceput urmarirea penala sub control judiciar a lui George Scutaru. Fostul consilier al lui Klaus Iohannis, acuzat ca a primit o parte dintr-o mita de 1 milion de euro pe care a folosit-o in campania electorala din 2008” [DNA indicts George Scutaru under judicial review. Klaus Iohannis’s former adviser is accused of receiving part of a million euro bribe, which he used in the 2008 electoral campaign], HotNews, 3 April 2015, http://anticoruptie.hotnews.ro/stiri-anticoruptie-19822146-george-scutaru-fost-consilier-prezidential-lui-klaus-iohannis-audiat-dna.htm

[104] PNL expressly mentions convictions for corruption as grounds for suspension or expulsion from the party if the sentence is final. See Valentina Postelnicu, “PNL a definitivat modificările la Statut, în privinţa criteriilor de integritate” [PNL completes the changes to its statute regarding integrity criteria], Mediafax, 22 May 2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/politic/pnl-a-definitivat-modificarile-la-statut-in-privinta-criteriilor-de-integritate-14315873; and the new PNL statute, Article 22: http://www.pnl.ro/subpagina/iii-membri. PSD also pledged to suspend membership, but it does not expressly mention corruption, using more general terms such as convictions for “betraying national interests” or “violent crimes” to describe who cannot be a member. See PSD statute, Article 23: http://www.psd.ro/wp-content/themes/psd/pdfs/Statut-PSD.pdf

[105] Liviu Popescu, “Vâlcea: Mircia Gutău a devenit membru al PNL” [Vâlcea: Mircia Gutău became member of PNL], Agerpres, 21 October 2015, http://www.agerpres.ro/politica/2015/10/21/valcea-mircia-gutau-a-devenit-membru-al-pnl-20-53-43

[106] “Analiză: Liviu Dragnea, de la şefia CJ Teleorman, la vicepremier, ministru, om-cheie în PSD” [Analysis: Liviu Dragnea, from head of CC Teleorman, to vice prime minister, minister, key man in PSD], Mediafax, 15 May 2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/politic/analiza-liviu-dragnea-de-la-sefia-cj-teleorman-la-vicepremier-ministru-om-cheie-in-psd-14270682

[107] For the first time ever, all of the 530,000 members of PSD were asked to take part in the balloting, which was essentially a referendum on whether they were in favor of Dragnea assuming leadership of the party. About 97 percent of those who cast their ballots voted “yes.” Turnout was over 80 percent. See “Liviu Dragnea, unicul candidat, a fost ales preşedinte PSD cu 97% din voturile membrilor de partid [Liviu Dragnea, the only candidate, was elected president of PSD with 97 percent of the total party members’ votes], Realitatea, 12 October 2015, http://www.realitatea.net/liviu-dragnea-ales-presedinte-psd-cu-96-97prc-din-voturile-membrilor-de-partid_1808172.html#ixzz3ojjdNAq5

[108] One of the candidates, Şerban Nicolae, accused the party of lacking transparency and a truly competitive procedure for electing the president. See Ştefan Pană, “La nici 24 de ore după ce Negoiţă s-a retras din cursă, un alt politician renunţă la candidatura la şefia PSD” [Less than 24 hours after Negoiţă withdrew from the race, another politician gives up their candidacy for head of PSD], Gândul, 24 September 2015, http://www.gandul.info/politica/la-nici-24-de-ore-dupa-ce-negoita-s-a-retras-din-cursa-un-alt-politician-renunta-la-candidatura-la-sefia-psd-14748013

[109] The analysis entailed the creation of a single, publicly available database of all convictions that came as a result of DNA investigations. It contains details about each case, such as office, length of trial, and whether EU funding was involved, and served as the backbone for a map displaying the cases at the county level. See the Romanian Academic Society website at http://www.romaniacurata.ro/harta-coruptiei/ for the map and http://www.romaniacurata.ro/harta-coruptiei/?p=despre for the database.

[110] Catalin Lupasneanu, “Elena Udrea, arestată pentru 30 de zile” [Elena Udrea, arrested for 30 days], Mediafax, 11 February 2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/social/elena-udrea-arestata-pentru-30-de-zile-13816193

[111] Otilia Ciocan, “Cum au reconstituit procurorii reţeaua şpăgii în dosarul ‘Microsoft’: Elena Udrea şi Dorin Cocoş au disimulat mita prin vânzarea şi achiziţionarea mai multor imobile—referatul DNA” [How prosecutors reconstructed the ‘Microsoft case’ bribery network: Elena Udrea and Dorin Cocoş dissembled the bribe through buying and selling several properties—DNA report], Mediafax, 11 February 2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/social/cum-au-reconstituit-procurorii-reteaua-spagii-in-dosarul-microsoft-elena-udrea-si-dorin-cocos-au-disimulat-mita-prin-vanzarea-si-achizitionarea-mai-multor-imobile-referatul-dna-13816008

[112] Cosmin Prelipceanu, “Interviu Laura Codruţa Kövesi, procuror sef DNA: ‘Noi avem propriul serviciu in cadrul DNA care poate sa puna in aplicare autorizatiile de interceptare prin intermediul SRI […] SRI nu are access la continutul interceptarilor’” [Interview Laura Codruţa Kövesi, DNA chief prosecutor: ‘We have our own technical service, which can apply the wiretapping warrants through SRI … SRI does not have access to the contents’], Digi24, 8 April 2015, http://www.digi24.ro/Emisiuni/Digi24/Jurnalul+de+Seara/Arhiva+inregistrari/Jurnalul+de+seara+-+8+aprilie+2015

[113] “Procesul în dosarul ‘Gala Bute,’ reluat pe 11 noiembrie. Elena Udrea: Nimeni din România nu poate spune, cu probe, că am luat șpagă” [The ‘Bute Gala’ trial continues on November 11. Elena Udrea: Nobody in Romania can claim, with evidence, that I took bribe], Digi24, 16 October 2015, http://www.digi24.ro/Stiri/Digi24/Actualitate/Justitie/Incepe+procesul+in+dosarul+Gala+Bute+Elena+Udrea+Eu+am+fost+72+d

[114] Diana Lazăr and Marius Gîrlaşiu, “Victor Ponta şi-a dat demisia, însă este la butoane. Plumb, în capul PSD [Victor Ponta resigned, but is at the helm. Plumb, at the head of PSD], Jurnalul.ro, 16 July 2015, http://jurnalul.ro/stiri/politica/victor-ponta-si-a-dat-demisia-insa-este-la-butoane-plumb-in-capul-psd-692492.html

[115] Radu-Sorin Marius and Matthias Williams, “Romanian PM under criminal investigation, rebuffs resignation calls,” Reuters, 5 June 2015, http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/06/05/uk-romania-primeminister-corruption-idUKKBN0OL0U220150605

[116] “Time off for bad prose,” Economist, 24 October 2015, http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21676811-corrupt-politicians-are-churning-out-books-reduce-their-sentences-time-bad-prose

[117] Some high-profile prisoners published as many as five books in a short amount of time, leading to suspicions of ghostwriters, plagiarism, and other such practices meant to cheat the system. See Mihaela Stoica, “Câţi deţinuţi au devenit scriitori peste noapte: ‘Ca să scrii o carte, trebuie să ştii să scrii. Dacă l-aş vedea pe Nuţu Cămătaru că scrie, ar fi nişte semne de întrebare’” [How many prisoners became writers overnight: ‘To write a book you must know how to write. If I saw Nuţu Cămătaru writing, there would be some question marks’], Gândul, 23 June 2015, http://www.gandul.info/stiri/cati-detinuti-au-devenit-scriitori-peste-noapte-ca-sa-scrii-o-carte-trebuie-sa-stii-sa-scrii-daca-l-as-vedea-pe-nutu-camataru-ca-scrie-ar-fi-niste-semne-de-intrebare-10994871

[118] Iulia Marin, “Sechestrarea averilor făcute din corupție. Mic ghid explicativ” [Seizure of assets gained through corruption. A handbook], PressOne, 12 November 2015, https://pressone.ro/sechestrarea-averilor-facute-din-coruptie-mic-ghid-explicativ/

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