The Constitutional Court decided on Thursday that declarations of assets and interests of politicians and dignitaries should no longer be published on the website of the National Integrity Agency or on the online pages of other public institutions, and these declarations should no longer include the income and assets of spouses and children.
CCR argues that the specific provision violates the right to private life.
But for a country with a long history of corruption, this looks like a green light for looting.
Specifically, the CCR has declared unconstitutional art. 3 paragraph (2) of Law no. 176/2010, with the following content: “Asset declarations are drawn up on one’s own responsibility and include the rights and obligations of the declarant, the spouse, as well as the dependent children, according to annex no. 1”.
The decision is final.
Apparently, this is inspired by European data protection law.
What has already been posted online won’t be taken down, however — the decision has future effects.
CCR rapporteur was CCR magistrate Attila Varga, formerly an UDMR PM.
In one of his first public speeches, newly elected president Dan criticized the move as being “in contradiction with an essential principle of democracy – transparency in the exercise of public office”.
“Citizens’ access to information on the declarations of assets of public officials is a guarantee of integrity and accountability in the public sphere”, he wrote on Facebook.
He was backed by former Acting President Ilie Bologna, who noted that “the transparency of the declaration acts as a kind of brake to prevent overstepping the line”.
