Romania justice minister fails no-confidence vote

BUCHAREST, Feb 13 (Reuters) Romania's justice minister failed a no-confidence vote in parliament today after the leftist and far-right opposition labelled her anti-corruption fight a politically-motivated witch hunt.

The parliament's upper house voted 81 to 46 to condemn Monica Macovei's fight against fraud, supporting a motion that the drive had become a hunt ''for spectacular cases''.

''The latest signs show a partisan approach,'' the motion, initiated by the Conservative party and backed by the Social Democrats and the Greater Romania, said.

The drive by the former civil rights lawyer is a key part of the centrist coalition's efforts to curb widespread corruption, helping Romania to join the European Union in 2007, observers say.

Anti-graft prosecutors have brought charges against several senior politicians last year, including former premier Adrian Nastase and former centrist deputy prime minister George Copos.

Saying she would not resign, Macovei told parliament: ''The accusations are groundless. Our fight against corruption has not been partisan at all. We have just reached a state of normality in Romania.

''Prosecutors are now independent and are investigating politicians of all sorts including from the ruling parties,'' she said.

Despite growing dissent among opposition politicians over Macovei's campaign, Brussels has praised the Black Sea state's efforts to curb corruption, particularly her broad reforms of the bloated judiciary.

The fragile coalition came to power in 2004 on an anti-graft ticket, ousting the ex-communist Social Democrats, accused by many observers of allowing graft to fester. It increased the independence of courts, gave prosecutors more power to chase politicians and forced them to regularly disclose their wealth.

Some opposition politicians said Macovei should step down following the vote. But Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu has said regardless the outcome the cabinet will continue to support her.

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