(story to be published in tomorrow’s issue, March 27)
Disputes between PNL (Liberal Party) and PD (Democrat Party) continue on the theme of the conflict between Foreign Affairs minister Petre Roman and the former minister of Defence Victor Babiuc, as well as on the issue of Justice reform. Meanwhile, a new front is taking shape: breaking the monopoly of utilities managed by the Democrats. PD leader Bogdan Niculescu-Duvaz on Thursday contested from his position of vice-president of the Chamber of Deputies, the legality of the hearing of Victor Babiuc by the Defence Commission and, according to deputy Lajos Racotzi, recommended that hearings should be suspended until the arrival of the Dutch minister of Defence, because they would hurt national interests more than the dispute itself. Duvaz attended the meeting of the Defence Commission following a notice the Permanent Bureau of the Chamber received from the part of the president of this forum, Ioan Mircea Pascu (PSDR- Party of Social Democracy). Pascu drew attention to the fact that the vote for the investigation linked to the incident between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence was insufficient. Duvaz maintains he is the coordinator of the commission within the Bureau. He also reproaches that the hearing of Babiuc was not included on the agenda and he was brought following an invitation exclusively signed by the vice-president of the Commission, Ovidiu Draganescu (PNL). “Four of the five members of the Commission were not informed,” Duvaz said, but his statement is contradicted by Draganescu who maintains he held consultations with the other members of the Bureau. He, as well as many other deputies, raised no objections as to the presence of Babiuc. Duvaz also said there had not been enough votes for the initiation of an investigation, that minister Sorin Frunzaverde should have been called and not his predecessor who no longer has any connection with the ministry of Defence and that the hearing of Babiuc was operated in the presence of the press. He said he would today present to the Permanent Bureau a report on wrongdoing he found. “We either officially ask them to act within legal parameters, or make a reasonable appeal showing that Romania’s national interests are at stake, or we can notify the discipline Commission,” Duvaz said. Deputy Adrian Vilau stated that Duvaz exerted pressures and Vasile Matei denounced his “arrogant attitude.” In the presence of Duvaz, the commission did not have the necessary quorum to continue hearings with Eugen Dijmarescu, a secretary of state within the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, according to Racotzi.