Romanian lawmakers restore powers to anti-corruption body

(BUCHAREST) - Romanian senators voted in Tuesday a law restoring full powers to an anti-corruption body tasked with verifying the wealth of public officials, in accord with European Union recommendations.

"This vote shows things become possible when the political will exists," Prime Minister Emil Boc said after law was approved, even after the Social Democratic opposition abstained from the vote.

"Today we have restored the credibility lost" during a previous vote, when senators weakened the body's powers, he said.

The adoption of the bill comes after several months of intense political and judicial disputes which saw the draft invalidated by the Constitutional Court and twice modified by senators anxious to keep their wealth secret and avoid being brought to court in case of abuse.

The anti-graft agency (ANI) was created in 2007 on the advice of the European Union to verify assets and police potential conflicts of interest among ministers, lawmakers and other civil servants.

Romania is under strict monitoring by the EU as it seeks to reform its justice system and improve the fight against corruption.

In its July report on fighting corruption and organised crime in Romania and Bulgaria, the European Commission called on Bucharest to "re-establish ANI's powers to propose the effective forfeiture of unjustified wealth."