... Romania

by Cristina Vidrutiu

Guilt (Issue II/2019)


Not only was she the country's first female prosecutor general, she was also the country's youngest, and was an internationally recognized fighter against corruption. The EU is currently planning to appoint a European Public Prosecutor, in order fight cross-border corruption, money laundering and fraud affecting EU funds. It comes as no surprise that Kövesi is regarded as one of the office's top candidates – much to the concern of many politicians in their home countries. In Romania there have been demonstrations for the independence of the judiciary for months. Judges, professors, actors and students are taking to the streets together with other citizens to protest. In January 2017, the government issued the first emergency decrees to repeal laws against corruption. At that time the demonstrations began in Bucharest and covered all major cities in the country. They demand the resignation of the social-liberal government and seek to further the fight against corruption. The motto of the biggest demonstrations since the 1989 revolution is “hold out”, “#rezist” - for Romania and for Europe.



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