Slashdot Mirror
Romanian Prime Minister Accused of Plagiarism
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Seriously, who does? Why is this on Slashdot? It's not like Romania is relevant in world politics..
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?
When in Romania, copy what the Romanians do
Table-ized A.I.
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.
"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