Romania Gives Nod to MP's Corruption Probe

Romania's chamber of deputies on Monday gave its approval for prosecutors to open a criminal investigation into Valerian Vreme, a parliamentarian suspected of money laundering, abuse of office and bribery in relation to software licences for schools.

Vreme is the first politician to be stripped of parliamentary immunity of a group of four former government ministers allegedly involved in the same case.

Prosecutors say that the officials embezzled the 47-per-cent discount on the price that Microsoft offered the Romanian government for the school licenses.

Parliament has yet to vote on whether to lift the immunity of two senators - members of parliament's upper house - implicated in the case. The other former minister is now sitting in the European Parliament.

The four have all denied wrongdoing. Prosecutors note that while Microsoft products are at the heart of the case, the company itself is not implicated.

Brussels has regularly raised concerns about Romania's failure to tackle rampant high-level graft. Corruption is often cited as the main reason why it has been barred from joining the EU's passport-free Schengen zone.

Recent months saw some progress. The Romanian anti-corruption prosecutor's office says around 30 actual or former members of parliament have been convicted of - or are currently on trial for - corruption.

More than 100 mayors and vice-mayors are also on trial for awarding public contracts to relatives and friends or for similar abuses.