Invites for a corruption-free life
Protests over alleged corruption in Romania show a greater focus on affirming integrity and honesty.
A protester holds a sign that reads "All for Justice" in Bucharest, Romania, Dec.13.
AP
Over the past week, Romania has been rocked by protests against corruption. Like many of its neighbors, the Eastern European nation has seen similar uprisings for more than a decade. This time, however, many protesters have appealed to people鈥檚 better angels. They lean toward affirming principles of governance rather than merely opposing evil acts.
One chant favored during the protests, for example, is 鈥淛ustice, no corruption.鈥� Another is 鈥淚ntegrity, not complicity.鈥� One protest sign reads: 鈥淩espect for honest magistrates.鈥�
In the midst of the demonstrations 鈥� which focus on a media report that some judges helped officials avoid trials on corruption charges 鈥� hundreds of judges and prosecutors signed an open letter. It supports whistleblowers inside the judicial system who, despite threats of punishment, bravely expose wrongdoing.
鈥淭ruth and聽integrity聽must not be penalised but protected,鈥� the letter stated.
This shift toward an emphasis on higher qualities of thought was made clear in Romania earlier this year. A former anti-corruption activist, Nicu艧or Dan, became president in May after winning an election with the slogan 鈥淗onest Romania.鈥� Now, in response to the letter, he invited prosecutors and judges to an 鈥渙pen-ended discussion鈥� on judicial reform Dec. 22. (The date is remembered as the anniversary of the end of a dictatorship in 1989.)
Like many countries still mired in corruption despite reforms in laws and institutions, Romania struggles with defining corruption in many situations or effectively measuring it. In early December, the United Nations held its second global conference on corruption measurement. The effort is more than a technical exercise. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a foundation for building integrity systems that rely on evidence,鈥� said Marcos Neto, U.N. Assistant Secretary-General.
In fact, one of the newer ways of tallying corruption in countries is the Index of Public Integrity. It has been effective in focusing attention on three pillars that help embed trust in government: an independent judiciary, a free press, and digitally empowered citizens. For Romanians protesting on the streets, their selfless appeals to people鈥檚 integrity 鈥� and similar immeasurable traits 鈥� are not simply the inverse of corruption. They are an invitation to participate in a corruption-free life.