The Foundation For The Defense Of Citizens Against State Abuses (FACIAS) has uncovered a situation that raises serious questions about the transparency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI). Of the approximately 4,500 complaints concerning the conduct of MAI staff, disciplinary sanctions were imposed in only five cases. The FACIAS action forms part of a comprehensive investigation into the conduct of officials in state institutions.
Abuses and unprofessional conduct by public officials are a well-documented issue in Romania. In response, FACIAS has initiated a comprehensive investigation to assess the manner in which public institutions address citizen grievances. The question thus arises as to the identity of the entity being defended by the state. Are the citizens or their own employees the focus of the state's attention? The preliminary findings are cause for significant concern. The data indicates a tendency towards excessive protection of officials at the expense of citizens. However, the situation at the Ministry of Internal Affairs is distinctive. Of the 4,500 complaints lodged against MAI officials, only five have resulted in disciplinary action, representing a mere 0.1% of cases. The current situation raises serious questions about the efficiency and fairness of the system for investigating complaints against MAI staff.
FACIAS calls for urgent reform
It is a matter of concern that a significant number of petitions have not resulted in the imposition of disciplinary sanctions. In this context, FACIAS calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to take concrete steps to regulate the applicable administrative procedure, thus ensuring a transparent and fair process for investigating complaints of abuse by public officials. It is of the utmost importance that citizens have confidence that their complaints are treated with the utmost seriousness and impartiality, and that they are not simply discarded and forgotten.
Proposals from FACIAS
- Full transparency in the investigation process: Regular publication of reports on complaints received and the results of investigations, including details of sanctions applied.
- Continuing education and training: Implementation of continuing education and training programmes for public servants, focusing on ethics, integrity and public relations.
FACIAS calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other public institutions to implement these reforms as soon as possible.