A state that is affected by corruption cannot ensure the equality of rights and freedoms for its citizens. “Until we don’t diminish the level of corruption at state institutions, the quality of law observance and implementation will not rise and there will be no preconditions for ensuring equality,” jurist Ștefan Gligor stated in IPN’s public debate “Equality: Culture, Practice or Illusion?”.
“I see the manifestation of socioeconomic inequality at all levels. This refers first of all to the socially deprived groups of people whom the state as a system ignores. As a result, we see a wide imbalance between those who can hire a lawyer, lobby for their interests and attract the attention of the press and those who cannot do this. The latter don’t even know such words,” said the expert of IPN’s project “Overcoming of European Integration Stereotypes by Communication”.
According to him, this imbalance generates a profound feeling of depression and apathy.
“This imbalance can be fixed only through the approach to the building of the state and state institutions and the quality of the people working for state institutions. When you see that police officers, prosecutors who must do away with unlawfulness are actually part of this decadence, your lose heart,” stated Ștefan Gligor.
He is sure that civil society can play an important role in changing the situation. “We didn’t appropriately carry out the task of building the state. The problems remained the same: the quality of political elites, the reform agenda and its authenticity, to extent to which the politicians can ensure reforms… This is a closed circle that can be broken only by people who worked on themselves and overcame poverty. Many feel that they are not masters in this country, but there are also persons who try to help others, including those who are less successful,” concluded Ștefan Gligor.
The public debate “Equality: culture, practice or illusion?” forms part of the series of debates “Overcoming of European Integration Stereotypes by Communication”. IPN News Agency stages the debates with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
