Romanian anticorruption agency left unchanged

BUCHAREST, Romania

Lawmakers have rejected proposals to make Romania's anti-corruption agency more efficient in fighting graft.

The Senate's vote late Wednesday effectively lessened the National Integrity Agency's powers to monitor public officials' wealth. The proposals would have extended the investigation period from one to three years and required politicians' family members to declare state contracts.

Agency official Horia Georgescu accused lawmakers Thursday of voting to protect their personal interests, while U.S. Ambassador Mark Gitenstein said the vote weakened the agency.

The Senate instead approved watered-down legislation to comply with an April court ruling that the agency was unconstitutional. Romania's EU-monitored justice system is routinely tainted by corruption allegations.