Romanian President Laughingly Says He Can't 'Remember' If He Ever Issued Bribes

On Wednesday, July 30, during a press conference at the Cotroceni Palace, President Nicușor Dan faced questions about bribery, a topic recently ignited by the resignation of former Deputy Prime Minister Dragoș Anastasiu. Journalists asked Dan about any personal history involving "survival bribes" that Anastasiu reportedly confessed to, or attempts to escape police fines similar to behaviors hinted at by Ilie Bolojan. Dan responded with nonchalance, saying, "I don't remember," a reaction that left many pondering its implications, according to ProTV News.

Dragoș Anastasiu had publicly acknowledged using bribes during his tenure, explaining his business faced pressures leading to these actions. He described his company's situation as a "zone of fear and adaptation" due to unpaid invoices, reported Mediafax. Anastasiu's name was linked to a bribery case involving an ANAF employee over eight years.

When pressed further, Dan navigated questions about the timing and requirements related to the ORNISS certificate, which Anastasiu had acquired while serving as an honorary advisor to Bolojan. "The situation that Mr. Anastasiu had was more of a matter of image from an older issue," said Dan, as reported by Digi24.

Journalists also highlighted a separate investigation linking Anastasiu's company to other scandals. His business was found to be a stakeholder in an enterprise under the control of Nicu Gheară, a figure with reputed ties to the underworld. This added another layer to the ongoing narrative, casting shadows over connections within the sphere of Romanian governmental operations, revealed through a separate press investigation by Digi24.

During the press conference, Dan was consistently prompted regarding the necessity of knowing about such associations amidst his administration's context, especially since these situations involved sensitive certifications like the ORNISS. Yet, Dan maintained his stance, asserting, "I did not have this information," as he sidestepped deeper entanglements of the unfolding bribery scandal.

Ilie Bolojan also commented on historical practices in Romania's bureaucratic corridors. Referring to the 1990s, he recalled scenarios where interactions with police officers were resolved "friendlily," describing a systemic issue within public administrative practices of that era, according to Adevarul. Bolojan asserted he neither encouraged nor condoned bribery or similar "attentions."

As the Romanian political landscape grapples with these issues, the debate over institutional transparency and integrity remains relevant. Amidst accusations and denials, the government faces ongoing public scrutiny, particularly surrounding how it manages and discloses past and present ties of its key figures to less savory activities. President Nicușor Dan finds himself directly navigating these challenges, with responses leaving many questions unanswered.