EVZ EDITORIAL: Why do I miss Norica Nicolai?

MIRCEA MARIAN : “So, we have a new minister of justice: young, with a western speech and on top of everything, not a member of any political party”

So, we have a new minister of justice: young, with a western speech and on top of everything, not a member of any political party. Everybody should be thrilled, considering that even our difficult president Basescu said he “completely trusts” Catalin Predoiu. Bravely standing again the “radicals” in the party, Tariceanu has adopted Ciolos’ attitude and refused the dictatorship of the PNL Permanent Office.

15 years of press experience have taught me to view such utopia displays very very sceptically. They simply don’t fit into the general view of Romanian politics. Does anybody actually think that the liberals are willing to gamble the appointing of the future Attorney General of the National Anti-Corruption Prosecutors, keeping in mind that Daniel Morar’s mandate expires in the summer? We could imagine, just for a second, the scenario in which a former attorney from Dinu Patriciu’s firm, having been appointed head of the Romanian justice system, would suggest to the current head of the National Anti-Corruption Prosecutors to stay for another mandate?

I admit, I don’t believe for one second in the innocence of our new minister of justice. Finding a successor for Chiuariu lasted almost three months because figures like Tariceanu, Dinu Patriciu, Relu Fenechiu and their friends under investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Prossecutors needed a person who they could trust. After the failed attempt to promote Norica Nicolai, the liberals had a change of tactics and pulled this publicly unknown character from the hat.

But, in the same way the experience with Tudor Chiuariu proved, sometimes, the surprises that our prime-minister unveils upon us are worse than evil characters, but as predictable like the vice-president of PNL. Basescu, a politician who always knew hot to change adapt his tactics, needed to act thrilled of Predoiu. Actually, the president preferred not to waste a political shot.

Predoiu was part of the system at least since the Minister of Finances appointed him on the board of directors of CEC. It would seem fair to know how Predoiu was appointed to this position. An overview of the actual board shows us that the members were either civil servants or dignitaries of the state, all except the new minister. CA’s have always been a form for state officials to increase their government salaries. If the Romanian government needed Predoiu’s expertise concerning commercial litigations, it would have made sense that there should have been a contract between CEC and the law firm that he was working for.

I would be less sceptical if, yesterday, our new minister would have answered certain questions regarding his past and his future plans, instead of just reading a statement filled with meaningless words, like: “The success of these reforms can only belong to the entire political class”.

I’m sure that he firmly impressed the judicial committees of the parliament – Serban Nicolae, Sergiu Andon and others like them. I am curiously waiting for the moment of truth: the relationship with the National Anti-Corruption Prossecutors who are investigating, amongst other, the father-in-law of the newly appointed dignitary.