Hildegard Puwak
Encyclopedia
Hildegard Carola Puwak is a Romania
n politician, member of the Social Democratic Party
, who served as the Minister for European Integration
from 2000 until October 2003 (as part of the Adrian Năstase
cabinet). Puwak is of German ethnicity
and represented Timiş County
in the Chamber of Deputies from 1996 to 2004.
, and in 1979 got a doctorate in economics from the same university. Between 1971 and 1992 she was a Visiting Professor at ASE, and also a research fellow at the National Institute of Economy and Life Standard Research in Bucharest. In 1992 she worked as a Visiting Professor at "a series of universities in the USA (Los Angeles, Cleveland and Chicago) and Germany (Darmstadt)". Between 1993–1996 she was a Secretary of State in the Romanian government, working in the Department for Economic Reform. In 1996 she was elected to the Chamber of Deputies, and acted as Deputy Chairman to the Commission for European Integration, and was also a member of the Commission for Economical Policy, Reform and Privatization.
newspaper accused Puwak of facilitating access for her husband's and her son's companies to some 150,000 non-reimbursable euros through the "Leonardo da Vinci" EU program, while she was in charge of those funds. Puwak denied the accusations, stating the applications had been submitted while she was an opposition MP. The opposition parties of that time, PD and PNL
, demanded her resignation or dismissal. On September 2, Puwak demanded that the anti-corruption prosecutors (PNA
) investigate the charges, and on the same day Prime Minister Adrian Năstase declared that the cabinet had full confidence in Puwak. On September 4, a team from the European Commission's Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF
) arrived to investigate. OLAF spokesman Alessandro Buttice announced on September 11 that his office was opening a case meant to assist the Romanian authorities in investigating allegations against Puwak. On October 13, PSD's Permanent Delegation (party leadership) decided to continue political support for her and Health Minister Mircea Beuran, awaiting the conclusion of the EU audit. Nevertheless, on October 20, she resigned together with Beuran and Şerban Mihailescu, the Secretary General of the Năstase government. The same day Năstase presented his proposal for replacements to president Ion Iliescu
, leading to media speculation that the three were fired instead. Năstase commented that "They resigned to eliminate suspicions and the risk that the government will be forced to explain minor issues instead of taking care of important matters," referring to Romania's bid to join the EU.
On October 30, the Greater Romania Party
, supported by PD and PNL, tried to initiate a parliamentary inquiry commission on the scandal, but this effort was defeated by the majority of the Romanian Senate. On December 19, 2003 the anti-corruption investigation was closed by prosecutor Adrian Miclescu without filing any charges. The case was then reopened on August 26, 2005, after the new Justice Minister Monica Macovei
fired him. Eventually the case went to trial, and Puwak's husband, Iosif Mihai Puwak, was sentenced in December 2007 to a 30-month suspended sentence for embezzling 39,000 euros from the EU da Vinci funds. He was also ordered to reimburse the money. He appealed, but the appeal was rejected by the Bucharest Court of Appeals on June 4, 2009. On November 9, 2009 her son Mihai Puwak was sentenced to a three-year suspended sentence for embezzling 32,160 euros from the same EU da Vinci funds, and ordered to reimburse the money. This sentence may still be appealed.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n politician, member of the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (Romania)
The Social Democratic Party is the major social-democratic political party in Romania. It was formed in 1992, after the post-communist National Salvation Front broke apart. It adopted its present name after a merger with a minor social-democratic party in 2001. Since its formation, it has always...
, who served as the Minister for European Integration
Ministry of European Integration of Romania
thumb|left|The logo of the [[Romania]]n Ministry of European IntegrationThe Ministry of European Integration of Romania was a Romanian government ministry existing between 2000 and 2007...
from 2000 until October 2003 (as part of the Adrian Năstase
Adrian Nastase
Adrian Năstase is a Romanian politician who was the Prime Minister of Romania from December 2000 to December 2004.He competed as the Social Democratic Party candidate in the 2004 presidential election, but was defeated by centre-right Justice and Truth Alliance candidate Traian Băsescu.He was...
cabinet). Puwak is of German ethnicity
Germans of Romania
The Germans of Romania or Rumäniendeutsche were 760,000 strong in 1930. They are not a single group; thus, to understand their language, culture, and history, one must view them as independent groups:...
and represented Timiş County
Timis County
Timiș , , Banat Bulgarian: ) is a county of western Romania, in the historical region Banat, with the county seat at Timișoara. It is the largest county in Romania in terms of land area....
in the Chamber of Deputies from 1996 to 2004.
Education and career
She graduated in 1971 form the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies (ASE), Faculty of Commerce, magna cum laudaeLatin honors
Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of academic distinction with which an academic degree was earned. This system is primarily used in the United States, Canada, and in many countries of continental Europe, though some institutions also use the English translation of these...
, and in 1979 got a doctorate in economics from the same university. Between 1971 and 1992 she was a Visiting Professor at ASE, and also a research fellow at the National Institute of Economy and Life Standard Research in Bucharest. In 1992 she worked as a Visiting Professor at "a series of universities in the USA (Los Angeles, Cleveland and Chicago) and Germany (Darmstadt)". Between 1993–1996 she was a Secretary of State in the Romanian government, working in the Department for Economic Reform. In 1996 she was elected to the Chamber of Deputies, and acted as Deputy Chairman to the Commission for European Integration, and was also a member of the Commission for Economical Policy, Reform and Privatization.
Corruption scandal
On July 29, 2003 a corruption scandal broke out when AdevărulAdevarul
Adevărul is a Romanian daily newspaper, based in Bucharest. Founded in 1871 and reestablished in 1888, it was the main left-wing press venue to be published during the Romanian Kingdom's existence, adopting an independent pro-democratic position, advocating land reform and universal suffrage...
newspaper accused Puwak of facilitating access for her husband's and her son's companies to some 150,000 non-reimbursable euros through the "Leonardo da Vinci" EU program, while she was in charge of those funds. Puwak denied the accusations, stating the applications had been submitted while she was an opposition MP. The opposition parties of that time, PD and PNL
National Liberal Party (Romania)
The National Liberal Party , abbreviated to PNL, is a centre-right liberal party in Romania. It is the third-largest party in the Romanian Parliament, with 53 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 22 in the Senate: behind the centre-right Democratic Liberal Party and the centre-left Social...
, demanded her resignation or dismissal. On September 2, Puwak demanded that the anti-corruption prosecutors (PNA
PNA
Peptide nucleic acid is an artificially synthesized polymer similar to DNA or RNA invented by Peter E. Nielsen , Michael Egholm , Rolf H. Berg , and Ole Buchardt Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is an artificially synthesized polymer similar to DNA or RNA invented by Peter E. Nielsen (Univ. Copenhagen),...
) investigate the charges, and on the same day Prime Minister Adrian Năstase declared that the cabinet had full confidence in Puwak. On September 4, a team from the European Commission's Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF
OLAF
The European Anti-fraud Office is charged by the European Union with protecting the financial interests of the European Union: Its tasks are to fight fraud affecting the EU budget, as well as corruption and any other irregular activity, including misconduct, within the European Institutions, in an...
) arrived to investigate. OLAF spokesman Alessandro Buttice announced on September 11 that his office was opening a case meant to assist the Romanian authorities in investigating allegations against Puwak. On October 13, PSD's Permanent Delegation (party leadership) decided to continue political support for her and Health Minister Mircea Beuran, awaiting the conclusion of the EU audit. Nevertheless, on October 20, she resigned together with Beuran and Şerban Mihailescu, the Secretary General of the Năstase government. The same day Năstase presented his proposal for replacements to president Ion Iliescu
Ion Iliescu
Ion Iliescu served as President of Romania from 1990 until 1996, and from 2000 until 2004. From 1996 to 2000 and from 2004 until his retirement in 2008, Iliescu was a Senator for the Social Democratic Party , whose honorary president he remains....
, leading to media speculation that the three were fired instead. Năstase commented that "They resigned to eliminate suspicions and the risk that the government will be forced to explain minor issues instead of taking care of important matters," referring to Romania's bid to join the EU.
On October 30, the Greater Romania Party
Greater Romania Party
The Greater Romania Party is a Romanian radical right-wing, ultra-nationalist political party, led by Corneliu Vadim Tudor. The party is sometimes referred to in English as the Great Romania Party....
, supported by PD and PNL, tried to initiate a parliamentary inquiry commission on the scandal, but this effort was defeated by the majority of the Romanian Senate. On December 19, 2003 the anti-corruption investigation was closed by prosecutor Adrian Miclescu without filing any charges. The case was then reopened on August 26, 2005, after the new Justice Minister Monica Macovei
Monica Macovei
Monica Luisa Macovei is a Romanian politician, lawyer and former prosecutor, currently a Member of the European Parliament from the Democratic Liberal Party. She was the Minister of Justice of Romania in the first cabinet of Prime Minister Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu...
fired him. Eventually the case went to trial, and Puwak's husband, Iosif Mihai Puwak, was sentenced in December 2007 to a 30-month suspended sentence for embezzling 39,000 euros from the EU da Vinci funds. He was also ordered to reimburse the money. He appealed, but the appeal was rejected by the Bucharest Court of Appeals on June 4, 2009. On November 9, 2009 her son Mihai Puwak was sentenced to a three-year suspended sentence for embezzling 32,160 euros from the same EU da Vinci funds, and ordered to reimburse the money. This sentence may still be appealed.