Percorso:ANSA > Nuova Europa > Romania > Romania: government's new measures on justice
Romania: government's new measures on justice
Harsh criticism from president Iohannis and the opposition
20 February, 13:51
(ANSA) - BUCHAREST, FEB 20 - Romania's government has adopted
a new emergency ordinance amending the laws on justice. In
particular, the amendment concerns the appointment and the
duration of the attorney general and deputy prosecutors, the
heads of DIICOT (the Directorate of Investigation for Crime and
Terrorism) and of the DNA (the National Anti-Corruption
Directorate). According to the opposition parties, the measure
is another attempt by the Social Democratic government led by
Viorica Dancila, to subject the judiciary to the control of
executive power.
The ordinance, coming at a time when there are 'high tensions' between the Balkan country and the European Union on issues related to justice and corruption, was submitted by the Superior Council of the Judiciary, according to Justice Minister Tudorel Toader.
On the occasion of the launch of the European semester, Prime minister Dancila had reassured the EU Commission that no further amendments to the justice laws would be put forward without the vote of the Romanian parliament and without prior consultation with the Venice Commission. The head of the government has pledged he will explain to the EU the reasons for adopting the measure.
President Klaus Iohannis's reaction was strong. ''The Social Democratic government - according to the president's Facebook page - wants to create, through emergency ordinances, a special status for those who have legal troubles. Romania is not at disposal of those who want to establish political control of justice''.
Attorney general Augustin Lazar did not hide his perplexities. ''The new ordinance on laws concerning justice - he said - can lead to an institutional deadlock and contains non-constitutional provisions''. Liviu Dragnea, the leader of the Social Democratic party, already sentenced to 3 years and 6 months by the court of first instance for abuse in office proceedings (the trial before the appeal court started some days ago), was quite evasive. ''I was not aware of this ordinance - Dragnea said talking on the G4 Media website - but I read it and I think it is right and necessary, as well as having nothing to do with me''. (ANSA).
© Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved
The ordinance, coming at a time when there are 'high tensions' between the Balkan country and the European Union on issues related to justice and corruption, was submitted by the Superior Council of the Judiciary, according to Justice Minister Tudorel Toader.
On the occasion of the launch of the European semester, Prime minister Dancila had reassured the EU Commission that no further amendments to the justice laws would be put forward without the vote of the Romanian parliament and without prior consultation with the Venice Commission. The head of the government has pledged he will explain to the EU the reasons for adopting the measure.
President Klaus Iohannis's reaction was strong. ''The Social Democratic government - according to the president's Facebook page - wants to create, through emergency ordinances, a special status for those who have legal troubles. Romania is not at disposal of those who want to establish political control of justice''.
Attorney general Augustin Lazar did not hide his perplexities. ''The new ordinance on laws concerning justice - he said - can lead to an institutional deadlock and contains non-constitutional provisions''. Liviu Dragnea, the leader of the Social Democratic party, already sentenced to 3 years and 6 months by the court of first instance for abuse in office proceedings (the trial before the appeal court started some days ago), was quite evasive. ''I was not aware of this ordinance - Dragnea said talking on the G4 Media website - but I read it and I think it is right and necessary, as well as having nothing to do with me''. (ANSA).
