Press release - budget debate - interdiction for citizens!

ActiveWatch – the Media Monitoring Agency, the National Association of Counseling Bureaus for Citizens (NACBC), the Resource Center for Public Participation (CeRe) and Transparency International – Romania  are bringing up to the attention of the public opinion a serious deviation from the principles of transparency and public participation,  regulated by the 52/2003 law.

We are claiming the access interdiction in the Capital City Hall, at the public debate, on the budget project for the year 2010. As the Public Local Finances law 273/2006 says, the local budget adoption must be preceded by a public debate. 

At 12.50, at the new City Hall headquarters, the representatives of the signing organizations where put in the situation to negotiate with the policemen their right to participate at the meeting announced for 13.00. The official motive was that “Mister Mayor gave the order that no one can enter in the new headquarters.” 

As for more, under the pretext of security procedures, and also of the false preoccupation for a solution of this misunderstanding, the City Hall guards cornered the organizations’ representatives at the entrance.

We would also like to say that all this time the forces report was 1 to 1. That means 7 angry and suspicious guardians against 7 persons who know their right to participate at the board’s session.

We think that this incident brings within serious damage to the image of the main City Hall and it gives us the right to continue to question the good faith of the city managers.

For further information: Irina Zamfirescu, Project Manager ActiveWatch - the Media Monitoring Agency, 0727736572