Romanians Long For Good Old Days Of Dracula In Modern Corrupt Society

by Marian Chiriac

Vlad is better known in the West as the historical model for Dracula, the fictional vampire. But in Romania he is seen as a symbol of justice and moral rectitude, more so now amid the rampant corruption following the collapse of Communism in 1989.

Many Romanians look on the Communist days as a golden age. They see corruption everywhere now, and almost every international institution lists corruption as the main stumbling block to reform and foreign investment.

Last week Romania was listed the third most corrupt country in Europe after Russia and Albania in the Year 2003 Index of Perceived Corruption prepared by the Berlin-based independent investigative group, Transparency International (TI).

"Romania is among the group of developing countries whose government must implement results-oriented programs to fight corruption," says Anca Paduraru, media adviser at the local TI branch. But she adds that "international support, especially for transparency in public contracting is essential to build solid foundations for removing corruption from government and public services."

Worldwide, Romania ranks the 83rd most corrupt country on a list of 133 countries examined. The list is prepared in descending order, where the most corrupt state has the lowest ranking.

The survey is based on perceptions -- how corrupt a country's politicians and public officials are seen to be by businesspeople, analysts, and by the citizens.

Corruption remains a widespread problem across Southeast Europe. A recent public opinion poll in the Balkans -- Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania and Serbia and Montenegro -- ranks corruption as the fourth largest problem following unemployment, low income and poverty.

People believe that corruption is particularly rife among certain groups of professionals including customs and tax officials, police officers and lawyers. Executives fare poorly in the survey as well: 67 percent of those polled in Albania, 61 percent in Macedonia, 58 percent in Romania, and 55 percent in Bulgaria consider that "most" or "nearly all" executives are corrupt.

Tales of corruption fill the pages of Romanian newspapers every day, with scandals ranging from the unexplained wealth of political leaders and their cronies to vanishing profits from the sale of state-run companies to domestic and foreign buyers.

People are more concerned, however, about bribes -- known as spaga -- they have to pay for basic services, many of which were free under Communism.

"My mother was in hospital and I had to pay the doctors and nurses to treat her," says Eliza Popescu, a teacher who earns some $130 a month, an average salary. "To get an operation I had to pay almost 100 dollars for the surgeon's services -- not to mention the money for the nurses or for bringing food in from home."

Romanians often have to pay bribes for their children to get into good schools and sometimes even to receive good grades. Most schooling and medical services however, remain free.

"My 18-year-old daughter wanted to attend an institute to become an architect, which costs some 3,000 dollars a year," said a man who did not want to be named. "I did not offer a bribe, but I know teachers who have taken bribes, and parents who are willing to pay money to teachers to secure a place for their children at university."

For years people in Romania seemed resigned to corruption. But new pressures from European Union (EU) officials on the administration to clean up its act as a condition for joining the EU has raised hopes the situation could change.

Prime Minister Adrian Nastase said in Bucharest Wednesday that the cabinet had approved new measures aimed at combating corruption. He did not offer details, but the measures focus on the judiciary and public administration, on the business environment, and promotion of transparency.

The move follows anti-graft legislation passed in May and the establishment of a national anti-corruption prosecutor's office. The new legislation requires MPs and ministers to declare their bank deposits and their assets.

"This is not a solution in itself, implementation is what counts," Cristian Pirvulescu, who teaches politics at Bucharest University told IPS.

The real problem is poorly paid and badly trained civil servants, and political interference in judicial processes, he says. "It is a problem of administrative and political culture, and a lack of willingness to delegate. Unless the social environment favoring corruption is transformed, there is no reason to expect any radical change for the better."

Corruption was one of the main stumbling blocks to Romania joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Now the EU says Romania must make progress in tackling corruption before it can join in 2007.

Foreign investors have frequently complained that corruption makes it hard to do business in Romania. The problem is exacerbated by badly written or constantly changing legislation. This allows varying interpretations of regulations, which in turn encourages officials to demand bribes to overlook imaginary transgressions.

"Romania has a lot to offer," said Denis MacShane, Britain's European affairs minister on an official visit to Romania last week. "An educated work force, a large domestic market ...but despite this many investors keep away from Romania and will continue to do so as long as they believe that their business will suffer because of corruption."

Romania has drawn just $5.5 billion of investment over the last ten years. The investment in most central European countries is at least double that.