Strasburg, Sept. 12, 2012
Pino Arlacchi (S&D ). - Mr President, for eight years Romania was ruled by an authoritarian president who violated fundamental rights, who regularly attacked the parliament, the government, the judiciary, the trade unions and all the media that opposed him.
Băsescu’s regime was based on a parallel system of personal power. It was the same old story – using intelligence services, the police, and the office of the prosecutor to spy on citizens, to intimidate political opponents and protect friends. The mafia, corruption and clientele were closely associated with this parallel system that was finally challenged by a popular reaction.
The Commission did not lift a finger against all these abuses. Romania got a new parliament that started an impeachment process which it carried out according to constitutional rules. At this point the Commission intervened, endorsing all the allegations brought by Băsescu. So, Ms Reding, you should apologise for the irresponsible language you used against a Member State and a democratic government calling a process that was constitutional and legal a parliamentary coup.
[source:www.europarl.europa.eu]