UK Ambassador voices concern on convicted MPs in Romania

Newsroom 19/07/2012 | 15:26

The UK Ambassador in Romania, Martin Harris, commented on his blog, on Thursday, that politicians have a particular responsibility in supporting the justice reform and the fight against corruption, which are the main objectives of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) set up by the European Commission upon Romania’s accession in the EU.

The Ambassador highlighted the positive results that are mentioned by the Commission in the case of Romania, such as the performance of the anti-corruption prosecutors and the improved management of trials.

Ambassador Harris called for the Romanian institutions to support each other in order to improve the fight against corruption. He wrote that Romania’s politicians, of all parties, need to do a reform of their own.

“The Parliament needs to put its own house in order. It is extraordinary that convicted felons can still sit as MPs,” said the Ambassador. He added that the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, adopted by the Government and the Parliament, gives a good framework to make the reforms.

Suspended President Basescu said earlier this week, during a televised appearance, that 20 MPs have criminal files and three are incompatible.