Balkan news without the globalist spin
Please Follow us on Gab, Minds, Telegram, Rumble, GETTR, Truth Social, Twitter, and Facebook, Youtube
In a controversial decision handed down last Thursday, Romania’s Constitutional Court ruled that asset declarations filed by public officials and politicians will no longer be made public. The declarations will also no longer require disclosure of income earned by spouses or children.
The ruling effectively dismantles a key transparency tool used to hold officials accountable for their wealth and potential conflicts of interest.
The National Integrity Agency (ANI), which is responsible for collecting and verifying these declarations, strongly criticized the court's decision. The agency warned that it violates Romania’s international anti-corruption commitments, some in place for nearly two decades, and could lead to the annulment of over 12 million existing declarations. Transparency advocates and watchdog groups have already begun raising concerns that the move opens the door to unchecked corruption and undermines public trust in government institutions.
President Nicușor Dan reacted sharply to Thursday’s ruling by Romania’s Constitutional Court, calling it a blow to democratic principles.
"Today’s surprising decision by the Constitutional Court contradicts a fundamental principle of democracy: transparency in the exercise of public office," Dan said. "Public access to the asset declarations of officials is a safeguard of integrity and accountability in public life, and that principle must be firmly defended." He added that if the Court’s reasoning reveals technical flaws in the current legal framework, it is Parliament’s duty to correct them “swiftly and responsibly.”
The Wealth of Romania’s Constitutional Court Judges
Romania’s nine Constitutional Court judges each earn tens of thousands of euros annually solely from their official stipends, with some also drawing substantial pension income on top. For example, Court President Marian Enache reported earnings of €250,000 in a single year, according to public asset declarations. Ironically, these very declarations, which provided a rare window into the financial status of the country's top judges, are the same records the Court voted on Thursday to keep out of public view.
In 2023 alone, several judges earned well over €100,000, with some exceeding even €250,000 when pensions are included. Judge Cristian Deliorga topped the list with a combined income of approximately €265,000, while others like Gheorghe Stan and Attila Varga each reported earnings between €160,000 and €200,000. The declared sources of income range from salaries and pensions to real estate sales, honoraria, and even a €90,000 wedding gift.
Property ownership is extensive. Many judges listed multiple apartments, houses, vacation homes, and land holdings across the country. Attila Varga, for instance, owns a home in Satu Mare, a vacation house in Harghita, and over twelve acres of farmland. Simina Tănăsescu owns three apartments and an agricultural plot, while Iuliana Scântei reported four apartments in Bucharest and Iași along with two urban plots of land in the capital. One judge, Gheorghe Stan, even listed an apartment in Spain.
Luxury goods are far from absent in these declarations. Watches, artwork, jewelry, and hunting weapons appear frequently, with values sometimes exceeding €100,000. Judge Scântei alone declared high-end personal items worth €180,000. Cars, from older Dacias to newer Toyotas, Mazdas, and Lexuses, also feature heavily. At least two judges, Stanciu and Varga, disclosed collections of vehicles, including models dating back to the early 2000s.
The judges’ bank holdings further showcase their financial stability, including several reported deposits in the six-figure range. Livia Stanciu, for example, declared a bank deposit worth €374,000. Bogdan Licu disclosed a €390,000 deposit and €35,000 in various current accounts. Scântei listed 13 bank and investment accounts and noted that she had personally loaned €270,000 to her own law firm.
However, not all judges appear debt-free. Mihaela Ciochină reported €52,000 in loans to banks, while Gheorghe Stan and Iuliana Scântei each declared personal debts totaling over €150,000. These liabilities coexist with otherwise high-value assets, suggesting complex financial arrangements that would be far less transparent under the Court’s new ruling to shield such disclosures from public scrutiny.
Stay informed with The Balkan
