Romania’s top anti-corruption prosecutor Daniel Morar was awarded as "European inspiration of the year" in an Oscar-like ceremony on Tuesday night. The awards are a must to the Brussels "creme de la creme", although Mr Morar could not attend himself, but was represented by his spokeswoman.
The European recognition comes at a crucial time for the beleaguered prosecutor, whose mandate expired in August and was temporarily prolongued until the end of December. He has few supporters among the local politicians, who have gathered against him and his highly performing unit which has investigated and prosecuted high level corruption for the first time since the fall of Communism.
Corruption is still a major problem in Romania and it was thanks to Mr Morar and a reformist justice minister, Monica Macovei - ousted just three months after the country joined the EU and her presence in the government was no longer seen as necessary to convince Brussels that the Romanian politicians were committed to fight corruption.
Also highly bullied at home, Ms Macovei recently received the "Woman of Europe" award from the president of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering, who expressed his deepest admiration for the reforms and fight against corruption she led at home, urging Europeans to follow her example.
How many more recognitions from abroad must come for the Romanian politicians to finally get it? Their impunity is an offence to the rule of law and respect for citizens. Yet some of the blame has to go also on the Romanians’ high tolerance for corruption. Former Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, charged with several counts of corruption, has just been elected as MP on Sunday, in the new direct voting system.
But this is also why reformists and anti-corruption fighters should be promoted and let to do their work, not bullied and sacked. They should be able to set an example and lead their country forward. Mr Morar should stay on as a top prosecutor and Ms Macovei maybe return as a justice minister in the new cabinet to be formed next month.
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Dec 3rd, 2008
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