Basescu begins minister probe
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Romanian President Traian Basescu authorized a criminal investigation yesterday of Telecommunications Minister Zsolt Nagy, who has overseen privatization of the sector, Basescu’s office said. Prosecutors had asked a presidential committee to approve an inquiry into «breaches of national security,» but did not give details. «The committee is proposing an inquiry… to confirm or not the involvement of Minister Zsolt Nagy in committing a criminal deed,» the presidency said in a statement. Nagy is a member of the ethnic Hungarian party, a minor partner in the governing coalition. He has denied any wrongdoing. Recent privatizations came under the spotlight after a Credit Suisse banker, two former government officials and a consultant were arrested late last year on suspicion of leaking secret documents in past privatizations. Credit Suisse has won a contract to advise it on the sale of the state’s remaining 46 percent stake in telecoms firm Romtelecom, majority owned by Greece’s OTE. The sale, which the government expects to fetch -1 billion, is the biggest share offering the country has ever planned.
