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Questioning Anticorruption in Postcommunist Contexts. Romanian MPs from Commitment to Contestation

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  • Iancu Alexandra

    (University of Bucharest, Faculty of Political Science, Calea Plevnei nr. 59, 010223 Bucharest, BucharestRomania)

Abstract

The outbreak of corruption scandals involving elected officials has raised criticism concerning the quality of parliamentary representation in Romania. The public image of the legislature rapidly became that of a ‘reactionary gathering of criminals’, persons who use public office in order to cover abuses of power and office. The core contestation of the legislature aimed above all at the usage by parliament of its constitutional privileges and immunities in order to postpone / impede criminal investigations against members of the legislative. Starting from the analysis of the parliamentary speeches of the members of parliament (MPs) under criminal investigation on corruption charges, this paper focuses on the evolving dynamic of acceptance and contestation with respect to the implementation of anticorruption policies. The paper highlights, based on the analysis of the justifications put forward on the occasion of parliamentary hearings, the gradual configuration of a trans-partisan division within the legislature, promoting countervailing, ‘anti-anticorruption’ discourses, which pit ‘anticorruption’ and democratic representation against each other.

Suggested Citation

  • Iancu Alexandra, 2018. "Questioning Anticorruption in Postcommunist Contexts. Romanian MPs from Commitment to Contestation," Comparative Southeast European Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 66(3), pages 392-417, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:soeuro:v:66:y:2018:i:3:p:392-417:n:6
    DOI: 10.1515/soeu-2018-0030
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