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Romania, US Department of State warns on judicial reform
Parliament, decisions and votes cannot be object of any pressure
28 November, 16:07
(ANSA) - BUCHAREST - ''The United States notes with concern
that the Parliament of Romania is considering legislation that
could undermine the fight against corruption and weaken judicial
independence in Romania. This legislation, which was originally
proposed by the Ministry of Justice, threatens the progress
Romania has made in recent years to build strong judicial
institutions shielded from political interference. We urge the
Parliament of Romania to reject proposals that weaken the rule
of law and endanger the fight against corruption,'' a US
Department of State release, posted on the official website,
reads.
It is part of the press statement titled 'Romania - proposals affecting the independence of the judiciary' filed by the US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert. The message comes hours after the warning from US Ambassador Hans Klemm who said, in an interview for 'Express de Banat' that the US is watching closely the amendments the Parliament brings to the laws of justice. The most serious concerns were related to the initial form of the package law made by the ministry of justice, the US envoy said.
Meanwhile, the Chamber Speaker, Liviu Dragnea and Senate Speaker, Calin Popescu Tariceanu have released a joint statement on Tuesday as a reply to the Department of State message, saying that the Parliament has the Romanian Parliament has been unpleasantly surprised by their message and that debates, decisions and votes in the Parliament take place in the name of the sovereignty of the people and cannot be object of any pressure.
According to The Romania Journal, Romania's Parliament has been unpleasantly surprised by the release issued by the US Department of State on November 27, 2017 regarding the justice reform. We want to underline that in any discussion with our partners we must consider the fundamental constitutional principle, the same in the USA as in Romania, that debates, decisions and votes in Parliament take place in the name of the people's sovereignty and cannot be object of any type of pressure. The United States of America must trust Romania's Parliament, which seeks to consolidate the independence of the judiciary system and to remove political influences in the justice process,'' says the joint press release by the speakers of the two chambers of the Parliament. (ANSA).
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It is part of the press statement titled 'Romania - proposals affecting the independence of the judiciary' filed by the US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert. The message comes hours after the warning from US Ambassador Hans Klemm who said, in an interview for 'Express de Banat' that the US is watching closely the amendments the Parliament brings to the laws of justice. The most serious concerns were related to the initial form of the package law made by the ministry of justice, the US envoy said.
Meanwhile, the Chamber Speaker, Liviu Dragnea and Senate Speaker, Calin Popescu Tariceanu have released a joint statement on Tuesday as a reply to the Department of State message, saying that the Parliament has the Romanian Parliament has been unpleasantly surprised by their message and that debates, decisions and votes in the Parliament take place in the name of the sovereignty of the people and cannot be object of any pressure.
According to The Romania Journal, Romania's Parliament has been unpleasantly surprised by the release issued by the US Department of State on November 27, 2017 regarding the justice reform. We want to underline that in any discussion with our partners we must consider the fundamental constitutional principle, the same in the USA as in Romania, that debates, decisions and votes in Parliament take place in the name of the people's sovereignty and cannot be object of any type of pressure. The United States of America must trust Romania's Parliament, which seeks to consolidate the independence of the judiciary system and to remove political influences in the justice process,'' says the joint press release by the speakers of the two chambers of the Parliament. (ANSA).
