SCRISOAREA EURODEPUTATULUI LIBERAL CATRE COLEGII DIN P.E.!

Dear Colleagues,

I have always considered that manipulation is a horrible thing. Maybe it is part of politics, but certainly of dirty politics. Presenting half of the truth and mixing it with disgusting lies, simply considering that the others would not notice, or would ignore the reality, shows only the lack of respect. In the message sent to you by Mrs Macovei and labelled as "Facts", the truth is that: - No prosecutor ever mentioned a fraud of 1.5 millions of votes; it is possible that a few thousands votes were the result of a fraud and I deeply regret if it happened, I find this unacceptable and those responsible must be sanctioned. But the invention of 1.5 million of votes as a result of fraud is coming only from the PDL and president Basescu, as a desperate attempt to demonstrate that president Basescu was not rejected by 7.5 million Romanian voters, representing 87% of those present to the vote. Some PDL leaders even mentioned a fraud of more than 2 million votes. Why? Because they reflect President Basescu's desperation after loosing any shred of legitimacy. The facts are: he got 5.2 million votes in favour in 2009, but he was sanctioned for his unconstitutional behaviour by 7.5 million voters this summer. - These investigations, carried out in joint teams by dozens of ordinary prosecutors with dozens of anti-corruption prosecutors, represented a total novelty in my country as they did not ask people to come to their offices, as prescribed by the Penal Procedure Code, moreover when their status could change from witnesses into suspects or defendants; instead the prosecutors themselves went to the villages and interrogated people literally in the streets, near the churches (after some important religious ceremonies), using indeed the Bibles which were put on the hood of the cars they came with (!), things which, I can assure you, are not provided for by the legislation of my country. Because the Romanian legislation is in line with the European practice, including with what we in the LIBE Committee agreed upon during the discussion on the Report on Access to lawyer: the interrogation place should always be the police station, or the prosecutor's office. But, of course, Mrs Macovei forgets to tell you this aspect, since the entire truth does not serve her purpose. When Mrs Macovei asks you to protect the judiciary and the rule of law in Romania, she forgets one more time to mention that in May this year she herself was found guilty by the Superior Council of Magistracy of interference with the prosecutors' investigations, ordering them what to do and how to do it. This is what an official press release of this institution states. I speak not only for myself, but for many Romanian citizens who voted in this referendum and who are sick and tired of such behaviour: we wish PDL and their international political allies would stop making false accusations and using half truths and double standards. Instead, PDL should try to regain some popular support within the country, based on genuine work, not only for their own interest, but also for the public good With kind regards, Renate Weber Member of the European Parliament, ALDE Romania, PNL 60 Rue Wiertz, ASP 08G 246, Brussels Tel: +32 2 28 45846 Fax: +32 2 28 49846 GSM:+40 722 340600