The Foundation For The Defense Of The Citizens Against Citizens Against State Abuses (FACIAS) has submitted a formal complaint to the Prosecutor's Office of the High Court of Cassation and Justice, requesting an investigation into potential criminal negligence and abuse of office on the part of the Mayor of Bucharest, Nicușor Dan. The complaint alleges that Dan's systematic refusal to approve the urgent consolidation of the floorwork endangers thousands of lives.
In 2022, following a specialized report prepared by the General Directorate of Investments of the PMB and the Streets Administration, the Mayor General warned that the situation of the Unirii Plain is very serious and the rehabilitation works are urgent.
Furthermore, the approval report concerning the establishment of a partnership between the Municipality of Bucharest, through the Streets Administration, and the Local Council of Sector 4, with the objective of financing and implementing the consolidation and rehabilitation of the aforementioned objectives: The aforementioned Pasajul Unirii, Planșeu Unirii Bridge, and the related and adjacent areas that ensure their functionality and safe operation, have been the subject of expert assessment by the Streets Administration in recent years. This assessment has revealed the presence of significant structural issues, necessitating extensive consolidation and rehabilitation works. Consequently, the proposed draft resolution is of an urgent nature and cannot be postponed.
Nevertheless, the mayor of Bucharest has persistently declined to endorse the consolidation of the structure, thereby contravening the stipulations of the Protocol of Association between the Bucharest City Hall, through the Street Administration, and Sector 4 of Bucharest. This document delineates the collaborative framework for the restoration of the floor.
The repeated blocking of the issuance of building permits for this busy structure represents a significant administrative challenge, but it is also a direct threat to the safety of citizens. In its formal complaint to the Public Prosecutor's Office, FACIAS called for an investigation into potential violations of legislation pertaining to abuse of office and negligence in office, as outlined in Articles 297 and 298 of the Penal Code. These alleged offenses could be attributed to the Mayor General of Bucharest, Nicușor Dan.
It is worth noting that the inaction of the capital's Mayor General, in the face of the unambiguous stipulations set forth in the association protocol, can be construed as an act of gross negligence. This inaction creates a potential for catastrophe and loss of human life. In accordance with Article 7, paragraph 16 of Law No. 50/1991 on the authorisation of construction works, an emergency building permit must be issued without delay in cases of public risk in order to prevent major disasters.
The objective of FACIAS's request is to elucidate the rationale behind the Mayor General's decision to disregard a situation of significant risk to the citizens. In a context where alarming information is already prevalent in the public domain, the mayor's refusal to endorse the requisite authorisations for consolidation remains opaque. Consequently, we inquire as to the underlying motives behind the Mayor General's potential exposure to catastrophe and whether there are additional studies, currently unknown to the public, that could justify this decision.
It is the conviction of FACIAS that it is of the utmost importance for the relevant authorities to prioritise the protection of citizens and the maintenance of public safety, which can be achieved through the implementation of a rigorous and comprehensive monitoring process of the investigation.