Bruised and battered wealth verification agency brought back to life
Romanian Parliament’s Lower Chamber has approved a draft law reactivating wealth-monitoring body the National Integrity Agency (ANI), following a court decision which declared the agency illegal
May 2010 - From the Print Edition
Earlier last month the Constitutional Court stripped ANI of its right to screen politicians’ wealth and interest statements. Where irregularities exist, ANI also had the role of referring apparent public officials’ wealth disparities to prosecutors for further investigation.
The Court declared the agency unconstitutional, as it breached the right to privacy and did not apply the presumption of innocence to monitored individuals.
The decision was criticised by both the President, civil society and foreign missions in Romania, as ANI was a pioneering mechanism for wealth verification and a potential model for other developing nations.
Prime Minister Emil Boc reminded politicians that the establishment of ANI was part of Romania’s obligations to the European Union.
The new law, which was expected to enter a debate in the Senate as we went to press, states that public officials who prove to be incompatible with their position are banned from holding any public office, except elected positions, for one year, compared to the three-year time frame under the previous law.
The new law also states that public officials will fill in two statements - a public declaration presenting the value of the bank deposits and a description of the buildings owned by the officials, and a confidential statement which includes the names of the banks and the public officials’ home addresses.
President Basescu has asked the Government to fast-track the new law.