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Romanian Prime Minister Accused of Plagiarism

Posted by timothy on from the let's-all-play-gerism! dept.

ananyo writes "In a revelation that could bring down the country's government, Romania's Prime Minister, Victor Ponta, stands accused of copying large sections of his 2003 PhD thesis in law from previous publications, without proper reference. Documents compiled by an anonymous whistle-blower indicate more than half of Ponta's 432-page, Romanian-language thesis on the functioning of the International Criminal Court consists of duplicated text. Last month, the country's education and research minister, computer scientist Ioan Mang, resigned following accusations of plagiarism in at least eight papers." Looks like it's contagious.

16 of 64 comments (clear)

  1. Governments fall by Runaway1956 · · Score: 2

    But it seems odd to me that an entire government should fall due to one cretin's past misconduct. Europeans (and parliamentary governments) have some strange habits.

    --
    "Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
    1. Re:Governments fall by Infiniti2000 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It's about corruption. When the government is in jeopardy because it has a difficult time dealing with corruption, and then something like this hits the very top of the government, there's a major problem with the whole government. It's not just one cretin.

    2. Re:Governments fall by meloneg · · Score: 2

      The phrase might make more sense if you read it as his "administration might fall". That's closer terminology from an American perspective.

    3. Re:Governments fall by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 3, Insightful

      A 'government' is a parliamentary group(sometimes a party, most typically a coalition) large enough to pass whatever the procedural cutoff is for being allowed to put your prime minister in place. It doesn't, in this context, refer to the broader framework in which this occurs.

      If the US actually had relevant 3rd parties, it'd be the rough equivalent of the Senate Majority Leader facing a scandal, and then having the alliance between the GOP and the Libertarians or the Democrats and the Greens that gave him the majority collapse, leading to a new Senate Majority Leader.

      Not a nothing event; but hardly catastrophic.

    4. Re:Governments fall by alphatel · · Score: 4, Funny

      Ponta is innocent of such allegations. He paid someone to write his thesis so he is the victim here. These infidel hackers who stole from the publications should suffer. People in a position of power should always have the right to pretend to do something without fear of recrimination for work that was totally paid in full years ago! Go find those crooks, damnit!

      --
      When the foot seeks the place of the head, the line is crossed. Know your place. Keep your place. Be a shoe.
    5. Re:Governments fall by Gaygirlie · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Actually, yes, using the work of others and claiming it is done by you, and then using that as a stepping-stone to advance your powers is a form of corruption. It does not mean that the person is easily bought, but it does show that the person is dishonest and not a character fit for being a prime minister.

    6. Re:Governments fall by nospam007 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      "How the fuck does plagiarism equate to being corrupt?"

      He acted dishonestly in return for a university degree, which is a personal gain.

      corrupt/krpt/
      Adjective:
      Having or showing a willingness to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain.
      Verb:
      Cause to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain.
      Synonyms:
      adjective. rotten - depraved - venal - bad - putrid
      verb. spoil - pervert - deprave - vitiate - rot - debauch

  2. Ponta isn't the only one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Oddly enough, Germany's minister for science and education, Annette Schavan, also faces allegations that substantial parts of her PhD thesis have been copied without proper attribution. As many as 56 out of 325 pages of her thesis were found to contain instances of plagiarism. Note that this Schavan is the same minister who called an earlier instance of plagiarism by the former German defense minister to be 'embarrassing'.

  3. Remember kids by TheSpoom · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you lie, cheat, and steal, you'll get into the top echelons of power. Just make sure you don't get caught... or at least, make sure that when you do get caught, you have the power to "take care" of whoever caught you.

    --
    It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
    - E. Debs
    1. Re:Remember kids by TheSpoom · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Your devolution into "party politics" is a huge part of the problem. Please stop.

      --
      It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
      - E. Debs
  4. Apparently influenced by Lobachevsky by kallisti · · Score: 2

    Who made me the genius I am today?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlgRDdWUs7g

    Tom Lehrer, of course.

  5. Who cares? by x0d · · Score: 3, Informative

    Seriously, who does? Why is this on Slashdot? It's not like Romania is relevant in world politics..

    1. Re:Who cares? by michaelmalak · · Score: 2

      It's relevant because it demonstrates how new technology can be used to expose misdeeds from the past.

  6. An old pal by reub2000 · · Score: 3, Informative

    How could you forget Pal Schmitt? Getting elected is all about lying to the electorate. Who would have thunk they'd have any problems lying when in school?

  7. Re:That's not the worst thing by elsurexiste · · Score: 2

    They totally plagiarized the country name. They just took Rome and added -ania to it.

    Also, this is the same country that has news like this

    --
    I rarely respond to comments. Also, don't ask for clarifications: a brain and Google are faster, believe me!
  8. You know what they say: by Tablizer · · Score: 4, Funny

    When in Romania, copy what the Romanians do

    --
    Table-ized A.I.