Why the West Wants Romania to Be Less Corrupt

The Romanian National Anti-Corruption Directorate's June 5 decision to launch a formal investigation against the country's prime minister, Victor Ponta, is the result of an internal regulatory campaign working in concert with Western geopolitical strategy. The United States and the European Union have long encouraged countries around the globe to adopt aggressive anti-corruption measures. Removing corruption abroad creates a more level playing field overall and improves access for Western companies. Western governments are also freer to engage with local decision-makers, feeling less concerned about corrupt practices swaying foreign policy. 

By investing in countries such as Romania, Western governments gain significant influence when it comes to regional foreign policy decision-making. Simultaneously, reduced corruption means key public figures are less likely to be bribed, extorted or coerced. This reduces the ability of some foreign governments, such as Russia, to gain sway over specific politicians and economic powerbrokers. These Western imperatives, coupled with a desire among certain domestic agencies (with ties to the West) to combat corruption, are helping bring about institutional change in Romania.