Radio România Internațional

Tag: Justice Minister Tudorel Toader

  • February 8, 2019

    February 8, 2019

    BUDGET – Romanias 2019 draft budget is presented for adoption in Government session today, the Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici has announced. He has stated that the document provides for significantly more money for investments, health-care and education. Also, the draft budget stipulates the allocation of 2% of the GDP for defence, in keeping with Romanias commitment to its partners in the North-Atlantic Alliance. Also, the necessary funds are secured for increasing pensions by 15%, as of September this year, as well as significant budgets for the local administration. The draft budget, criticized by the right-wing opposition, was built on an estimated 5.5% economic growth rate, an inflation rate of 2.8% and a deficit of 2.5% of the GDP.



    JHA – An informal meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council continues in Bucharest, focusing on justice. Todays agenda includes topics such as means of boosting judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters and obtaining electronic evidence in criminal cases. The talks are chaired by the Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, who has announced that another topic of discussion is the functioning of the European Public Prosecutors Office. Competing for the position of head of this office are three candidates, including the former head of the Romanian National Anticorruption Directorate, Laura Codruta Kovesi. On Thursday, the participants approached the issues of terrorism, police cooperation, the Schengen Area and migration.



    VENEZUELA – Romanias President Klaus Iohannis has decided to recognize Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela, the Presidential Administration announced on Friday. Klaus Iohannis believes that, as Romania is currently holding the Presidency of the EU Council and against the background of an increasing dynamics of international developments, Romania must have fast and well-grounded reactions with regard to foreign policy issues, in keeping with the main priorities it has constantly related to on long term. The US, Canada and most countries in the EU and Latin America have voiced support for Guaido. On Saturday, at a UN Security Council meeting, President Nicolas Maduro was supported by China and Russia. Maduro has rejected the calls for new elections made by the US, Canada, the EU and the Latin American countries.



    CORRUPTION – Radu Mazare, the former mayor of the Romanian Black Sea Port of Constanta, has received a final 9 year prison sentence issued by the High Court of Cassation and Justice, in a case involving illegal return and assignment of plots of land in the vicinity of beach areas in the county. Mazare will not serve his sentence, though, as he has fled to Madagascar. The former Social Democratic president of the Constanta County Council, Nicusor Constantinescu, and the former financier of the Dinamo Football Club, Cristian Borcea, have also received sentences in the same case. According to investigators, states assets were illegally deprived of large plots of land, worth some 114 million Euros.



    CENTRAL BANK – On February 12th, the board of the Romanian Central Bank will be heard in Parliament, the Central Bank Governor Mugur Isarescu has announced. He has stated that the Senates Budget and Finance Committee had sent the invitation some time ago, but the meeting could not be held, as there were points that needed clarification. Mugur Isarescu also declined an invitation to a hearing on Thursday, as it overlapped with the Boards meeting on monetary policy.



    DEVESELU – The Russian Defense Ministry has urged the US to destroy the anti-missile shield in Romania, claiming the system violates the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty. The request was made after both the US and Russia announced their withdrawal from the treaty signed in 1987. In response, the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu has stated that the facility in Deveselu, in southern Romania, is purely defensive, and allegations that the base might be used to launch nuclear missiles are used by Russia to justify its own intention of building missiles that do not observe the INF treaty. In turn, US officials have stated that the US Administration has no intention of providing Europe with nuclear weapons, even if a potential termination of the INF treaty would allow it to develop new missiles.



    FLU – The number of people who have succumbed to the flu in Romania has reached 95, according to the latest information provided by the National Centre for Surveillance and Control of Communicable Diseases. The victims had all suffered from other diseases and had not been vaccinated against the virus. So far, some 1.3 million Romanians have got the anti-flu shot and the Health Ministry has purchased another 30,000 shots for people at risk: patients with chronic diseases, pregnant women, children and elderly. Flu epidemic has been declared in Romania after the country registered three consecutive weeks of epidemic nature and the flu death toll increased.

  • The compensatory appeal law and developments in the judiciary

    The compensatory appeal law and developments in the judiciary

    The death of a 25-year old man in Medias, central
    Romania, attacked by three individuals, has once again brought to the forefront
    the talks on the law on compensatory appeal, which led to the early release of
    a large number of convicted prisoners. Statistics show that, between October 2017-November
    2018, some 13,000 people were released from prison, three quarters of them
    benefiting from parole and compensatory appeal. In the meantime, several
    hundreds of those released have committed new violent crimes, including murder,
    attempted murder, rape and burglary. One of them was the very man who stabbed
    the victim in Medias 11 times. He had been released from prison in May last
    year, two years and two months earlier. The second suspect, who also has a
    criminal record, was arrested for 30 days, and is now being prosecuted for murder.

    The third perpetrator is being prosecuted for violent actions. In a very prompt
    reaction, the right-wing opposition in Romania has called for the abrogation of
    the law. The National Liberal Party, the main opposition party in Romania, is preparing
    a bill which would ban violent inmates from benefiting from the compensatory
    appeal. Also, the Liberals will file a motion against the Justice Minister,
    accusing him of destroying the justice system and protecting the criminals. At
    the same time, the opposition Save Romania Union has too decided to submit to
    Parliament a bill for the abrogation of the law, drawing attention to the fact
    that, when the European Court of Human Rights condemned Romania because of the
    poor conditions in Romanian penitentiaries, the recommendation was to modernize
    and expand the system, not to deal with the issue of lack of space by releasing
    prisoners.

    According to the Save Romania Union, the coalition made up of the
    Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats used the
    Court’s ruling to favor criminals. The People’s Movement Party, also in the
    opposition, has announced it will support in Parliament any legal initiative
    that would correct the catastrophic effects of the compensatory appeal law. In
    the opinion of the party’s president, Eugen Tomac, after the crime in Medias, the
    ministers of justice and internal affairs should resign. Justice Minister
    Tudorel Toader, however, has defended himself, saying that the law was an initiative
    of the technocratic government headed by Dacian Ciolos, and the law merely came
    into force during his term. Toader has explained in a post on social media that
    the law was endorsed by the Superior Council of Magistracy and adopted by parliament
    before he took over the office of minister.

    (Translated by M. Ignatescu)

  • December 24, 2018 UPDATE

    December 24, 2018 UPDATE


    CHRISTMAS – On December 25th, Orthodox, Greek-Catholic and Catholic Christians from all over the world, including in Romania, which is a predominantly Orthodox country, celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. A famous tradition in Romania on Christmas Eve is caroling, with carolers symbolizing the angels and shepherds who announced the Birth of Jesus. They make wishes of good health and wealth and receive fruit, bagels, sweets or money. The old rite Christians who form the majority in Russia, Ukraine, Serbia and Georgia will celebrate Christmas on January 7. These days many pilgrims visit the holy sites from Israel and the Nativity Church in Bethlehem.



    MESSAGES – On Monday, Romanias president Klaus Iohannis conveyed a Christmas message to all Romanians, saying that the birth of Jesus Christ is a celebration of the miracle of life and of kindness, compassion and generosity. “In the spirit of these holy celebrations, we should take care of each other and of our country. If we are better each day, we will all be better together”, the presidents message also reads. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has wished all Romanians good health and well being. The custodian of the Romanian Crown, Margareta, has too sent a Christmas message, saying she promised to carry on the work started by her father, King Michael, towards ensuring Romanias prosperity and stability an strengthening its international position.



    JUSTICE – The Romanian justice minister Tudorel Toader has announced he will finalize, on Thursday, December 27, the procedure for the dismissal of Romanias Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar, which was started in October. Toader accused Lazar of professional and managerial misconduct and took legal action against him. The issue is to be judged by the High Court of Cassation and Justice. The opponents of the governing coalition claim that the dismissal of Augustin Lazar, which follows that of the former head of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, Laura Codruta Kovesi, was a form of political vendetta and an attempt to stop the anti-corruption fight. In another development, minister Toader has announced he has signed the documents for the release from prison of the former Romanian minister Elena Udrea and the former chief of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, Alina Bica, who are in prison in Costa Rica upon the request of the Romanian authorities. The two had received definitive sentences in Romania in cases of high-level corruption. The High Court of Cassation and Justice decided on the suspension of the imprisonment conviction in their case, after the Constitutional Court of Romania ruled as illegal the setting up of the panels of 5 judges at the High Court of Cassation and Justice. The ruling also led to the suspension of the imprisonment convictions in many other cases involving former ministers and incumbent politicians.



    BREXIT – Romania supports the Brexit deal as well as the political declaration on the future framework of the post-Brexit relation between the EU and the UK, the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu told the BBC on Sunday. He added that, from Romanias point of view, it was important for the UK to stay as close as possible to the EU. Teodor Melescanu also said that Romania envisaged to start bilateral negotiations with the UK as part of the strategic partnership concluded by the two sides. Minister Melescanu also recalled that, at the meeting held with the former British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, he received assurances that the more than 400 thousand Romanians living in the UK would not be affected by Brexit and he gave the example of the Romanian physicians and nurses who went to work in the UK. Boris Johnson had stated that if those people were to leave the UK, the countrys healthcare system would be severely affected.



    INDONESIA – The toll in the aftermath of the tsunami that hit Indonesia following a volcanic eruption has reach some 400 dead and more than 1,400 injured, the National Agency for Disaster Management announced on Monday. More than one hundred people are still reported missing. Hundreds of buildings were destroyed by the tsunami that hit the southern coasts of Sumatra and the western side of the Java island on Saturday.



    BORDER TRAFFIC – More than 250 thousand people, both Romanian and foreign citizens, have crossed Romanias borders over the past 24 hours in more than 60 thousand cars, according to the border police. Of them, as many as 170 thousand entered Romania while almost 83 thousand left the country. In the same period of time, the border police identified 30 cases of crimes and 37 cases of offences perpetrated by both Romanian and foreign citizens. Also, 29 foreign citizens were denied entry to Romania as they did not comply with the legal provisions, and 16 Romanian citizens were prevented from leaving the country for various legal reasons.



    IMMIGRANTS – The border police found in Curtici, near the border with Hungary, eight people from Iran who were trying to exit Romania illegally, using forged documents. The eight were travelling on an international train, along the Bucharest-Vienna route and presented IDs issued in Slovakia, Slovenia and Luxembourg. The adults, six men and two women, said they had got the documents from unknown individuals, because they wanted to get to the West. The border police are now conducting investigations in order to take the necessary legal measures.




  • President Iohannis rejects Government’s anti-corruption prosecutor nominee

    President Iohannis rejects Government’s anti-corruption prosecutor nominee

    In a move anticipated by supporters and opponents alike, Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis rejected, on Wednesday, the appointment of Adina Florea as chief –prosecutor of the Anti Corruption Directorate (DNA), proposed for this post by the Justice Minister Tudorel Toader. Three other nominations at the top of the High Court of Cassation and Justice and the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) respectively, were also rejected by president Iohannis. “The legal criteria that a prosecutor must meet, in an objective manner, in order to be appointed to a leading position, have not been met,” the presidential administration said in a release. Last month, a judicial advisory panel with the Superior Council of Magistracy issued a negative opinion on Mrs. Florea’s appointment, due to her “reduced stress tolerance and low analytical and synthetic skills,” as well as “deficiencies in relation to values such as honesty and impartiality, attributes that are indispensible to a manager.”



    Minister Toader said he was not surprised with the President’s decision, but with the way in which he motivated his decision, namely by invoking the absence of a certificate saying that the nominees did not collaborate with the Securitate, the communist political police. While debates seem to continue in legal and procedural terms, in political terms the President’s decision is seen by some analysts as a counterattack in the endless war against the ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats.



    We recall that in June, the Constitutional Court headed by Valer Dorneanu ruled that President Iohannis had to sack the then anti-graft chief prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi, as Minister Toader had demanded ever since February. Judges ruled that the President had started a conflict when initially refusing to dismiss her. Kovesi’s eventual dismissal was perceived as a victory by the leftist ruling coalition whom the opposition, civil society and a part of the media accuse of trying to subordinate magistrates and prevent corrupt politicians from being brought to justice.



    A spearhead of the anti-corruption fight to some and the leader of an abusive system to others, Laura Codruta Kovesi was frequently dubbed the most powerful woman in Romania. At a debate held at the UN headquarters in New York, shortly before her revocation, Kovesi said that the biggest challenge for Romania was to preserve the independence of judges and prosecutors. In the past five years alone, the Directorate prosecuted 14 ministers and former ministers as well as 53 MPs. Of them, 27 have already received final sentences. In the same period, the National Anticorruption Directorate ordered precautionary measures for assets worth 2.3 billion dollars. According to pundits, the Directorate will have to keep on working as it has before, because, in a mature democracy, institutions work irrespective of who is at their helm.


  • October 20, 2018 UPDATE

    October 20, 2018 UPDATE

    JUSTICE – Romanias president Klaus Iohannis intends to summon all political parties represented in Parliament for talks on the justice laws, following Fridays report of the Venice Commission on the changes brought to these laws in Romania. The Venice Commission, an advisory body of the Council of Europe, composed of independent experts in the field of constitutional law, believes that the changes brought to the Criminal Code, the Code of Criminal Proceeding and the justice laws will weaken the fight against corruption and organized crime. The Commission recommends large-scale public consultations, aimed at achieving a solid and coherent legislative change, supported by citizens and in compliance with the rulings of the Constitutional Court. Following the critical opinion of the Venice Commission, president Klaus Iohannis has stated that the Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, himself a member of the Commission, has definitely compromised his credibility and should resign.



    MEASURES – The Romanian Government is considering freezing salaries in the public sector in 2019. A letter sent this week by the Finance Ministry to Brussels reads that this is one of the measures envisaged for next year, for Romania to observe the deficit target of 2.58% of the GDP and subsequently to correct the deviation from the medium term objectives by reducing the structured balance which will exceed 3% of the GDP this year. According to the document posted on the European Commissions website, the Romanian Government intends to maintain the value of holiday tickets to approximately 300 Euro, and also the number of employees in the public sector.



    VISIT – Kuwait is the last leg of the Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancilas Near East tour. She has visited the cultural center Abdullah Al Salem, one of the largest cultural compounds in the world, the Scientific Center and the Grand Mosque in the capital. On the occasion, the Romanian PM highlighted the possibility of developing bilateral ties in research and innovation. Also, she appreciated the openness of the Kuwait authorities towards religious minorities and the efforts made to integrate them. Viorica Dancila also stressed the fact that the Muslim community in Romania had lived in peace alongside Christian and other ethnic groups. Previously, in the United Arab Emirates, Ms. Dancila had meeting with business people and officials, whom she encouraged to come and invest in Romania.



    INTERCEPTION – The Romanian Defense Minister Mihai Fifor stated on Saturday, in relation to the Russian place intercepted near the Romanian air space, that there was no reason of concern. Such events are not isolated, and they test the reaction speed of the NATO forces, the minister also said. He also stressed the fact that Romania, as a member of NATO, was ready to fulfill its mission at any time. On Thursday, a Russian military aircraft, flying near the Romanian air space, was intercepted by Canadian fighters, in collaboration with the Romanian Air Forces. As soon as the Russian plane was detected by the Command and Control Center of the Romanian Air Forces, Canadian Hornet fighters were sent on mission. They watched the Russian plane from a short distance, until the latter left the area.



    US – The Romanian Secretary of State for bilateral and strategic relations in the Euro-Atlantic space, George Ciamba, has had meetings in Washington with US officials. During these meetings he stressed that the Romanian presidency of the EU Council will focus on strengthening the partnership between the EU and the US, according to a communiqué issued on Saturday. Romania will hold the rotating presidency of the EU Council in the first half of next year. In the US, George Ciamba held talks with Wess Mitchell, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. During the talks, the Romanian official stressed that Romania will continue to be a committed ally to the US.



    PROCESSION – On Sunday in Bucharest, thousands of Roman and Greek Catholic believers and priests will take parte in a procession with relic and icon of Pope John Paul II. The relic consists in several drops of the Popes blood, a gift to the Saint Joseph Cathedral in Bucharest from Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the former personal secretary of the Pope, currently Archbishop Emeritus of Krakow. Born on May 18th, 1920 in Wadowice, Poland, Karol Wojtyla was elected pope in October 1978 and died on April 2nd, 2005, at the Vatican. Pope Francis declared him a saint in April 2014, so John Paul II was included in the calendar of the Catholic Church, and his liturgical commemoration was set for October 22nd of each year. In 1999, Pope John Paul II came to Romania, on the first visit to a predominantly orthodox country by a head of the Catholic Church.



    FESTIVAL – Bucharest is hosting the 28th National Theater Festival. For 11 days, theater lovers have the opportunity to participate in some 100 artistic events: shows, performances, exhibitions, book launches and meetings with special guests. The director of the festival, Marina Constantinescu, has stated that the money collected during the festival will be donated to the Daruieste viata (Give Life) Association, for the building of the first hospital of pediatric oncology and radiotherapy in Romania. Bucharest is also playing host to the event titled Cannes Films in Bucharest, an opportunity for film goers to watch films awarded at the prestigious festival, but also films signed by Romanian directors.



    INVICTUS – The Romanians who are participating in Sydney in the Invictus Games, the international adaptive multi-sport event, in which wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel and their associated veterans take part, will start on Sunday the team competitions, said on Radio Romania Colonel Augustin Pegulescu, himself an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran. The Romanian team is made up of 15 wounded soldiers, most of them participating for the second time in the Invictus Games. More than 500 soldiers from across the world have come to Sydeny to take part in the games, created by Prince Harry four years ago.


  • July 24, 2018 UPDATE

    July 24, 2018 UPDATE

    WILDFIRE
    – On Tuesday, the Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila conveyed to her Greek
    counterpart Alexis Tsipras sincerest condolences for the deaths caused by the
    fires that have engulfed the Attica region. Also, she expressed Romania’s
    willingness to help the Greek authorities deal with the disaster. The Romanian
    Defense Minister Mihai Fifor stays in contact with his counterpart to establish
    ways in which Romania can help. At least 60 people have been killed and some 200
    wounded in the fires. Athens has also activated the EU Civil Protection
    Mechanism, calling for help from the EU member countries. The wildfires were
    caused by a heat wave that has hit the country recently, with temperatures of
    over 40 degrees Centigrade.




    COOPERATION
    – Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis received in Bucharest on Tuesday the Irish
    Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. On the occasion, the two officials stressed the
    dynamics of bilateral trade exchanges, which doubled in the past year. Also,
    president Iohannis thanked Prime Minister Varadkar for the way in which the
    Romanian community was integrated in Ireland. The two officials also discussed
    other topics on the European agenda, such as the future of the EU, the Romanian
    presidency of the Council of the EU, in the first half of 2019, the Union’s new
    budget framework and migration management.




    ANTICORRUPTION – The four candidates running for the position
    of Head Prosecutor of the Anticorruption Directorate in Romania meet the legal
    conditions, according to the Ministry of Justice. The Justice Minister Tudorel
    Toader has announced that a decision is scheduled to be made on Friday. The
    position has been vacant after the former head prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi
    was dismissed by presidential decree on July 9, as a result of a ruling issued
    by the Constitutional Court.




    VISIT- Romanian PM Viorica Dancila has announced that on
    Wednesday she will begin a visit to Montenegro and Macedonia. The political
    dialogue will focus on enhancing bilateral relations, support for the two
    countries’ bid to join the EU, and ensuring regional stability and security.
    The PM specified that the main focus of the visit will be the European agenda
    of the two states, which Romania sees as a priority during its future
    presidency of the Council of the EU, in the first semester of next year.




    DIRECTIVES – Romania still has to transpose
    45 European directives, according to the Government spokesperson Nelu Barbu.
    After the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, he stated that, in the coming period, all
    ministries that have responsibilities in implementing European directives would
    make the necessary steps in that direction. The European Commission has been
    notified in relation to 13 transposition procedures, and there are already
    three infringement procedures against Romania, Nelu Barbu also said.




    REFERENDUM – The referendum on changing the
    Romanian Constitution, by redefining the concept of family, could be held in
    late September or early October, the leader of the Social Democratic Party
    Liviu Dragnea announced on Tuesday. Several NGOs, grouped under the so called
    ‘Coalition for Family’, have gathered three million signatures to organize a
    referendum aimed at banning marriages between same sex people. Currently, the
    Romanian Constitution stipulates that family is based on the consented marriage
    between spouses, and the ‘Coalition for Family’ would like the constitution to
    read that marriage is only the union between a man and a woman.



  • Earthquake at the National Anti-corruption Directorate

    Earthquake at the National Anti-corruption Directorate

    Expected by some and described as mind-boggling by others, the Constitutional Courts ruling on Wednesday is categorical: president Klaus Iohannis must dismiss the head of the National Anti-corruption Directorate Laura Codruta Kovesi, as requested, since February, by the justice minister Tudorel Toader. The constitutional judges have established that the president generated a conflict with the government when he refused to dismiss Kovesi. Without hiding his satisfaction, Toader says the ruling issued by the Constitutional Court is based on the constitutional principle according to which prosecutors carry out their activity under the authority of the justice minister. He also says that, unlike the minister, the president has no legal ability to assess the professional or managerial competence of high-ranking prosecutors. President Iohannis has only stated he is waiting for the Courts explanation before acting.



    The ruling coalition formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, which has constantly backed the justice ministers efforts to have the chief anti-corruption prosecutor dismissed, has hailed the Courts ruling, describing it as natural. The opposition, however, has denounced the confiscation of the presidents powers and the transformation of the Constitutional Court, chaired by the former Social Democratic politician Valer Dorneanu, into an advocate for the private interests of those in government. For the media, a chapter of the anti-corruption fight is about to come to an end.



    The spearhead of the fight against corruption for some or the head of an abusive police system for others, Kovesi has often been described as the most powerful woman in Romania. She admitted, however, last week, when she attended a debate at the United Nations headquarters in New York, that the biggest challenge for Romania is maintaining the independence of judges and prosecutors. “There have been repeated attempts to limit the efficiency of our investigations by initiatives of amending the anti-corruption legislation, by restricting the tools used by the prosecutors or by denying waiving the immunity of the politicians involved in corruption cases. The entire justice system has faced attacks in the form of fake news and public statements which could weaken the public trust in the judiciary”, is how she summed up the past year and a half, when the government has been accused of trying to block the fight against corruption and place magistrates at its orders.



    Minister Tudorel Toader responded from Bucharest that the acquittals, the legal conflicts of a constitutional nature, the cases affected by the statute of limitations and the abuses of prosecutors are not fake news. Beyond the war of words, what remain are the statistics. In the last five years alone, the National Anti-corruption Directorate has indicted 14 ministers and former ministers and 53 Members of Parliament. 27 of them have already received final sentences. During this period, the Directorate has also taken precautionary measures for 2.3 billion dollars worth of assets. Commentators say the work of the National Anti-corruption Directorate must continue because in a mature democracy institutions function and do their duty irrespective of who is in charge. (translated by Cristina Mateescu)


  • March 26, 2018

    March 26, 2018

    CENTENNIAL — The Romanian Academy is toady hosting an event devoted to the celebration of 100 years since the Union of Bessarabia and Romania. Entitled “Romania and the Republic of Moldova — Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”, the agenda of the event includes keynote addresses by the vice-president of the Romanian Academy, Alexandru Surdu, Academy member Dan Berindei, Valeriu Matei, former Moldovan Education Minister and honorary member of the Romanian Academy. On Tuesday, the Parliament in Bucharest will convene in a solemn plenary session, which will debate and adopt a solemn declaration to celebrate the Union of Bessarabia with Romania. Attending will be President Klaus Iohannis, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, HRH Margareta, Custodian of the Royal Crown, as well as officials from the Republic of Moldova.



    TALKS — Romania’s Justice Minister Tudorel Toader is today meeting his Serbian counterpart Nela Kuburovic in Belgrade. Toader said talks will also focus on the status of former Romanian MP Sebastian Ghita, who’s wanted in several criminal investigations and fled to Serbia, a non-EU state. Minister Toader said Romania has fulfilled its obligations and sent Belgrade authorities all the information needed for its extradition. We recall Sebastian Ghita fled the country in December 2016 and was caught in Serbia in April 2017.



    JUSTICE — Parliament’s special committee for the justice laws today issued a favorable opinion on the modifications brought to the laws on judicial organization, the status of magistrates and the functioning and structure of the Superior Council of Magistracy. The documents were re-drafted as per the rulings of the Constitutional Court. The Chamber of Deputies last week passed the three modified versions of the laws. The Senate is the decision-making body in this matter. Representatives of the opposition have criticized the modifications, saying there are reasons to notify the Constitutional Court again. Some of the points in the new laws have prompted massive street protests and triggered the magistrates’ vehement disapproval.



    MEETING — European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk are today holding talks in Varna, Bulgaria, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over efforts to re-launch the EU-Turkey dialogue. Talks will focus on a number of delicate topics, such as the degrading rule of law in Turkey, the two parties’ stand on migration and Turkey’s bid to join the EU. Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov said talks will prove very difficult. Neither of the two parties want to sidetrack the talks, because the EU remains an important trade partner for Turkey, while in turn Turkey is a key ally for Europe in combating migration and terrorism, France Press reports.



    ECONOMY — Germany was Romania’s top trade partner in 2017, accounting for 20% of Romania’s exports and imports, reads a recent Eurostat report. Italy, France and Hungary are next on the list of Romania’s top trade partners. At EU level, the United States and China together accounted for a third of EU trade in 2017. The value of two-way trade between the EU and the US stood at €631 billion, while two-way trade between the EU and China stood at €573 billion.



    FIRE — At least 64 people were killed in a fire that engulfed a shopping center in Kemerovo, southwestern Siberia, the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations reports. The fire broke out on the third-floor, close to the cinema and a play area. Dozens of people are still missing. Eye-witness reports say no one was there to order an evacuation, hence some people tried to save themselves by jumping off the windows, many of whom are now being hospitalized and treated for serious trauma. The work of rescue teams is extremely challenging, as there is a risk for the whole building to collapse. Authorities have launched an investigation.



    RESPONSE — Romania will announce later today its official response to the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergey Skripal in the UK, Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu on Monday told a press conference held jointly with his Lithuanian counterpart Linas Linkevicius. Melescanu said we need to show solidarity with the UK, especially in the context of Brexit, so as to prove the EU wants to maintain close relations with London in the field of defence and security once this country leaves the community bloc. In turn, the Lithuanian official said this case is a challenge for the entire international community, saying that such methods are unacceptable and require an appropriate response.



    HANDBALL — The Romanian women’s national handball team on Sunday defeated the Olympic defending champions Russia at home, 26-25 as part of Group 4 of the 2018 European Championship preliminaries. Romania thus squared things off with Russia after losing the first match against them. Our team now has 6 points and tops the group tables, the same as Austria, which nevertheless has a lower goal average. Russia is third-ranked with 4 points while Portugal is last-placed with 0 points. The first two teams will qualify to the European Championship to be hosted by France this summer. Romania’s last two fixtures are against Austria away from home and Portugal on home turf. (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • January 16, 2018

    January 16, 2018


    STATE VISIT – Romanias president Klaus Iohannis is today receiving the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, who is on a formal visit to Bucharest, accompanied by a delegation of business people. According to the Presidential Administration, the Japanese Prime Minister will hold talks with various officials, will give statements to the press and will attend a state dinner given in his honour by President Iohannis. This is the first visit to Romania by a Japanese Prime Minister and it takes place against the background of Romania and Japan celebrating five years since the signing of the renewed partnership agreement between the two countries. Romania is one leg of the diplomatic tour that Abe is taking of central and eastern Europe, which also includes Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Bulgaria and Serbia. Japan is thus trying to get support for its firm stand regarding the communist regime in North Korea.




    ROMANIAN PREMIER – The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has designated the Defence Minister Mihai Fifor as interim prime-minister, following the resignation of Mihai Tudose. The president has also announced that on Wednesday he will start consultations with the parliamentary parties on the nomination of a new prime-minister. He has voiced concern that within a year since the parliamentary elections Romania has already had two failing Social Democratic governments. In parallel, the National Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party has gathered again to make a proposal for the office of prime-minister. Tudose announced his resignation last night, after the Social Democratic leaders withdrew their political support.





    NATO – A delegation of the General Staff of the Romanian Armed Forces, headed by general Nicolae Ciuca, is attending in Brussels the NATO Military Committee Conference, attended by the NATO chiefs of staff. The agenda of the meeting includes topics such as challenges to security on NATOs southern flank and the contribution of the Alliance to stabilizing the region, the next steps in the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, NATOs role in providing assistance for security reform in Iraq and the training of the Iraqi forces in 2018. Also, the participants will discuss proposals regarding means of adapting NATOs command structure, military recommendations and ways of harmonizing them with the political recommendations of the North Atlantic Council.



    ECHR – The Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader is holding talks in Strasbourg today with the President of the European Court of Human Rights Guido Raimondi about the measures taken by the Bucharest authorities regarding conditions in penitentiaries. Recently, Tudose has stated that the Memorandum for the implementation of the pilot judgment of the Court will be submitted to Government for approval, and most likely on January 22nd the memorandum will reach the Court. January 25th is the deadline on which Romania is supposed to present the roadmap regarding prison conditions in Romania. In April, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that detention conditions in Romanian penitentiaries ran counter to the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights and revealed structural dysfunctionalities that required urgent measures to be implemented by the state.



    TENNIS – The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, number one in the WTA rankings, has today qualified for the second round of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, defeating the Australian Destanee Aiava 7-6, 6-1. In the second round, Halep, who is the tournaments first seed, will play against Eugenie Bouchard of Canada. Halep is the third qualified Romanian player, after Irina Begu and Sorana Carstea. Also today, the Romanian Ana Bogdan has defeated in two sets the French Kristina Mladenovici.


    (translated by Mihaela Ignatescu)




  • Justice Minister presents plans to amend the laws on the judiciary

    Justice Minister presents plans to amend the laws on the judiciary


    On Wednesday, the Justice Minister Tudorel Toader presented before Parliaments special committee the bill modifying the laws on the judiciary. From the very beginning, this reform initiative has triggered harsh criticism from the opposition and civil society, with the president labeling it as “an attack on the rule of law”. The Superior Council of Magistracy has in turn issued a negative opinion on the initiative. The law would restrict the remit of the National Anticorruption Directorate, preventing it from investigating magistrates.



    Another change regards the way chief prosecutors are appointed. Under the new law a special unit responsible for investigating crimes perpetrated by magistrates is to be set up. Before the committee, Minister Toader presented a milder version of the law in what regards the appointment of high-ranking prosecutors, saying that he had referred the matter to the Venice Commission so as to reflect the recommendations stipulated under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) for Romania with respect to reforming the countrys judiciary and the fight against corruption. As regards the new Justice Inspectorate body, the line minister said the Governments bill provided for the setting up of this institution as a separate body.



    Justice Minister Toader has stated:


    “The Justice Inspectorate will not be subordinated to the Superior Council of Magistracy, nor to the Justice Ministry, but it will operate as an independent, autonomous institution in order to fulfill its constitutional mission”.



    Minister Toader went on to say that a special law regulating this new institution would be adopted within six months. As regards magistrates accountability, Tudorel Toader said judges will have patrimonial liability over any actions performed in bad faith. Liberal MP Catalin Predoiu from the opposition, a former Justice Minister himself, referred to the real stake of this legislative initiative:


    “This attempt at modifying the laws on the judiciary seeks to accomplish one single goal, namely to change the way high-ranking prosecutors are being appointed. Invoking the CVM to politicize the current paradigm, transferring the decision-making power to the Justice Ministry or who knows where else is merely a pretext for the Social-Democrats”.



    Next week, the bill will be debated by Parliaments special committee responsible for unifying and ensuring legislative stability in the field of the judiciary. Meanwhile, the High Court of Cassation and Justice has called on Parliament to send the bill back to the Justice Ministry, claiming the document was not elaborated in a transparent manner and that it violates the legal provisions regulating the mechanism of drafting and adopting new legislation. (translated by Vlad Palcu)




  • The Week in Review (March 26-31)

    The Week in Review (March 26-31)

    The Prince of Wales on a formal visit to Bucharest


    On the very day the UK officially launched Brexit talks, with London triggering Art. 50 of the Treaty on European Union, the British Crown Prince Charles started an official visit to Bucharest as part of the European tour. As the Prince of Wales said upon receiving the “Star of Romania” National Order, in Rank of Grand Cross, from President Klaus Iohannis, for the 20 years since he has been visiting Romania he has tried to help Romanians remember the distinctiveness of their culture, their architectural legacy and, above all, their potential today. Charles also mentioned that he had been impressed to hear about the sufferings of Romanians under the communist regime and about the destruction brought about by that regime at a human and cultural level. During the award ceremony, President Iohannis appreciated the dedication and involvement of the Prince of Wales in charity work in Romania, as well as his contribution to promoting Romanias image abroad.



    Klaus Iohannis: “Your Royal Highness involvement in a large number of village restoration projects, in promoting local products, in traditional crafts training and education, has been a valuable contribution to raising awareness on a life style in which nature, tradition and modern man may coexist in harmony. We are also grateful to Your Royal Highness for expressing your admiration for Romanias spiritual and cultural heritage, every time you talk about Romania and its citizens.”



    The agenda of this second official visit to Romania by the Prince of Wales also included talks with PM Sorin Grindeanu, when one of the topics approached was the development and strengthening of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the UK, based on improved security cooperation and on substantial economic ties. HRH Charles also had meetings with members of the Royal Family of Romania.



    The future of the EU under debate


    Romania does not support a concentric circles Europe, nor a multi-speed European Union, which may lead to a deepening of social and economic divides between Member States. This is Romanias official stand, as reiterated by President Klaus Iohannis in Malta, the country that is currently holding the rotating presidency of the EU. In his address at the Congress of the European Peoples Party, the head of the Romanian state said the Union was at a crossroads, facing complex crises of unprecedented intensity. Terrorist attacks, migration, nationalism, populism, Brexit and, more than anything else, the escalation of Euro skepticism have become major challenges, Klaus Iohannis underlined. In Bucharest, the Romanian authorities announced that Romanias main objective during the negotiations for Brexit was to ensure the observance of the rights of the Romanian citizens working and studying in Great Britain. According to estimates, more than 250,000 Romanians are living in the UK.



    Romanias Prosecutor General and the Chief Prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate still in office


    Romanias Prosecutor General, Augustin Lazăr, and the Chief Prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA), Laura Codruţa Kovesi, will not be replaced. The Justice Minister, Tudorel Toader, stated that he made the assessment of the heads of the two institutions without any external interference or pressure. He explained that the DNA, when investigating emergency government decree no. 13, assumed the responsibility to undertake an investigation into a domain that goes beyond their legal authority, and the magistrates of the Constitutional Court re-established the balance between the state powers through their verdict. We recall that through decree no. 13 the coalition government made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberal and Democrats tried to amend the criminal anti-corruption legislation, which triggered large-scale street protests.



    The Justice Minister Tudorel Toader also announced the intention of monitoring the activity of prosecutors:


    “In the spirit of observing the rule of law, we believe it opportune to initiate a careful monitoring of the activity of prosecutors working for the DNA, the DIICOT- Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, and the Prosecutors Office with the High Court of Cassation and Justice. The monitoring should be made by the justice minister, and, as far as I am concerned, I can assure you that Ill do my job without any interference that could affect the independence of prosecutors.”



    As an avowed supporter of the prosecutors anti-corruption efforts, President Klaus Iohannis says he is content with the activity of Romanias Prosecutor General and of the Chief Prosecutor of the DNA. The Romanian President does not share the opinion of the Justice Minister regarding DNAs allegedly overstepping its authority: “I do expect the justice minister to support the Public Ministry, the Prosecutor General, the Chief Prosecutor of the DNA, the Chief Prosecutor of the DIICOT for them to better comply with their missions. If they work together in what I have called loyal cooperation, the Justice Ministry and the Public Ministry could make things right, unlike the moment when, early this year, they had divergent opinions over decree no. 13.”



    The PM Sorin Grindeanu has asked to be constantly informed on the results of the continuous monitoring of the prosecutors activity and has given assurances that the Government is firmly committed to combating corruption.

  • Romanian Justice in the Spotlight Again

    Romanian Justice in the Spotlight Again


    In February this year, hundreds of thousands of scandalized Romanians took to the streets to take part in the largest rallies Romania has seen since the fall of communism in 1989. Soon after being sworn in, the government, made up of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE), tried to grant collective pardon and amend the criminal codes through emergency decrees. After the protesters discourse was publicly shared by the right-of-center opposition, the media and Romanias western partners, the Government members felt cornered and had to eventually withdraw the decrees. Nevertheless, the public opinion continues to suspect that the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats plan to exonerate from criminal liability high-level politicians and decision-makers with the central and local administration.



    On Sunday evening, fresh protests against the Government and Parliament were held in the capital Bucharest and several other cities, as the Romanian MPs are currently debating a pardon bill, initiated by the Social Democrat senator Serban Nicolae. In Bucharest, around three thousand people expressed their outrage at this bill, which pardons certain acts of corruption. Protesters have denounced what they see as the politicization of the Constitutional Court, which has recently ruled that the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) exceeded their attributions when investigating the way in which the emergency decree amending the criminal codes was adopted.



    Protesters have again called on the Government to resign:


    “This Government should leave because they made changes aimed at fooling the people.”


    “I no longer want a political class that represents itself or decision makers who make a career out of politics”.


    “When you finally relax because you think that they eventually understood what this is about, here comes senator Serban Nicolae, who deplores the sad life of detainees. You could be easily fooled if you didnt know what he is really after. I wonder which is the politicians priority? Have they ever stepped into an oncology hospital? Honestly, what I really want is for this government to resign.”



    In another move, the new Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, appointed after the author of the emergency decrees, his predecessor Florin Iordache had to resign, pleads for transparency in decision making, in keeping with the Constitution and the EU standards. Toader says that the Bucharest authorities are making efforts to lift the European Commissions monitoring of the Romanian justice system.



    “We are still under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism. We want to lift this monitoring and we can only do that by having a transparent decision-making mechanism. We can only do that by adopting regulations in keeping with the constitutional standards, through judicial regulations that are in line with the standards of the Venice Commission.”



    The Justice Minister has also announced he will hold talks with the General Prosecutor Augustin Lazar and with the DNA chief Laura Codruta Kovesi on the investigation regarding the government emergency decree. Minister Toader has said that, in the following two weeks, he will also analyze the activity of the General Prosecutors Office. Toader did not rule out the possibility of having the two chief prosecutors dismissed. Such decision, however, risks sparking large-scale protests again, pundits have warned.


    (Translated by Elena Enache)