Radio România Internațional

Tag: Parliament committee

  • Reactions to the revisions of the criminal codes

    Reactions to the revisions of the criminal codes

    The government says the amendments to the criminal codes are in keeping with the rulings of the Constitutional Court of Romania and of the European Court of Human Rights and that they are intended to put an end to the abuses taking place in the justice system and prevent the infringement of human rights. Critics, on the other hand, fear that the leftist majority is passing laws that help criminals in its attempt to place magistrates under political control and halt the anti-corruption fight.



    The embassies of 12 western states, all of whom are stable democracies, on Thursday called on all sides involved in amending Romania’s criminal and criminal procedure codes to avoid changes that can weaken the rule of law or Romania’s ability to fight corruption and crime in general. This view is expressed in a joint statement signed by the embassies of the United States, Canada, Switzerland and Norway and eight EU member states, namely Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Holland and Sweden. The signatories say they are worried about the fact that some of the changes are likely to impede, in the future, international cooperation in the area of law enforcement and negatively affect the fight against violent crime, transnational organised crime, financial crimes and drug and human trafficking.



    A constant critic of the government coalition, president Klaus Iohannis believes the concerns of these embassies are justified and emphasises that the legislation should enhance the independence and efficiency of the justice system. Klaus Iohannis:



    “They are perfectly right. It’s something I have been saying myself for a long time. The justice legislation can be amended, but the amendments should enhance the independence and efficiency of the justice system. These warnings are exactly the things I have been saying for a long time and the things that Romanians themselves have been saying. I hope the Social Democratic Party listens to them.”



    This view is shared by Ludovic Orban, the leader of the main opposition party, the National Liberal Party.



    On the other hand, the chairman of the special committee in charge of the justice laws and former Social Democrat minister Florin Iordache has given assurances that the criminal and criminal procedure codes comply with all legal procedures:



    “There is no basis for these concerns. As far as the criminal procedure code is concerned, we have merely harmonised our legislation with the European directives and the decisions of the Court.”



    The foreign ministry says it has taken note of the position expressed by the 12 partner states and has pointed out that the amendment of the criminal legislation is the responsibility of Parliament, as laid down in the Constitution, while the consolidation of the rule of law and the fight against corruption are among the government’s priorities.


  • May 30, 2017 UPDATE

    May 30, 2017 UPDATE

    MARTYRS DAY — Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday ratified the law on declaring May 14 Martyrs’ Day, a tribute to the memory of people who died in communist prisons. On May 14 some 10,000 people were arrested, interrogated, condemned and subsequently imprisoned. Bucharest authorities officially condemned the communist regime in 2006.



    STRIKE — Air traffic resumed on Tuesday after earlier that day ground controllers went on an all-out strike. Also on Tuesday the Bucharest Tribunal deemed the strike legal. The strikers were mainly discontented with the lack of a new labor contract and the fact that no more personnel are being hired. We recall that their negotiations with ROMATSA, the state company that has the monopoly of traffic control in Romania, ended in a deadlock on Monday. Transport Minister Razvan Cuc has dismissed allegations about ROMATSA’s bankruptcy, announcing instead a new strategy for the company’s development. He accused the strikers of trying to disrupt the Pentecost holidays of the Romanians. About three thousand planes are daily transiting Romania’s airspace and under the law, ground controllers must monitor a third of these flights. On May 12th they went on two hours token strike.



    BEJINARIU — The Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday voted against a request filed by the National Anticorruption Directorate to launch criminal proceedings against Social-Democrat MP Eugen Bejinariu, a former Minister for Coordinating the Government’s General Secretariat. Voting against were 183 MPs, voting in favour were 88 while another 2 abstained. Presidency spokesperson Madalina Drobovolschi said the vote proves the Parliament majority’s contempt for the justice system. Bejinariu is charged with abuse of office in the Microsoft affair.



    FOREIGN AFFAIRS — Romania’s Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu will be visiting New York over May 31 — June 3, to attend the official launch of the campaign promoting Romania’s candidacy for a new term as a temporary member of the UN Security Council in the 2020 — 2021 period. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the campaign will be held under the slogan “Romania — a permanent commitment for peace, justice and development”. Melescanu’s agenda also includes a meeting with UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres. Romania launched its candidacy in 2006 for the Eastern Group. The elections will be held in June, 2019. Since its UN accession in 1955, Romania held four mandates as temporary member of the UN Security Council in 1962, 1976-1977, 1990-1991 and 2004-2005.



    INVESTIGATION — The Parliament Investigation Committee is continuing the inquiry into the organisation and unfolding of the presidential election of 2009 won by the right-wing candidate, Traian Basescu against his opponent, Social-Democrat Mircea Geoana. State secretaries with the Interior Ministry in 2009 and Geoana himself were heard by the committee on Monday. Geoana said he had information about voting irregularities in the Diaspora, but technically speaking, it’s difficult for a party to assure a proper turnout and control over so many polling stations abroad. Setting up the aforementioned investigation committee was decided after a controversial journalist had blown the whistle on alleged political interference in the election process eight years ago.



    MOLDOVA — The Government in Moldova moved to ban five Russian diplomats. The names of the Russian officials or the reasons why they were declared undesirable are still unknown. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Grigori Karasin said the decision is a serious challenge and a blow to those making efforts to bring bilateral relations between Moscow and Chisinau to a normal track. In turn pro-Russian Socialist president Igor Dodon condemned the move, saying he will summon the country’s Supreme Defence Council and demand explanations from the Intelligence Service and the Foreign Ministry as to the reasons the Russian diplomats were banned. Igor Dodon said the Government is trying to side with NATO, thus putting Moldova at risk. Moldova’s relations with Moscow are currently tense after Russia moved its troops to Transdniestr in eastern Moldova. Russia also banned Moldovan exports after this country last year signed Association and Free Trade agreements with the European Union.



    MANCHESTER ATTACK — Some 50 people are still hospitalized, of whom 15 in intensive care after last week’s bloody terrorist attack in Manchester, which killed 22 people, the British Healthcare Service reports. Also on Tuesday, Victoria Station leading to Manchester Arena was re-opened, the BBC reports. The author of the attack, 22-year-old Libyan-born Salman Abedi was born in Manchester. His brother and father were also arrested in connection with the attack, which has been claimed by the Islamic State terrorist organization.



    TENNIS — Sorana Cirstea, 64 WTA, defeated Shuai Peng of China, 26 WTA in straight sets in the opening round of the Roland Garros tennis tournament. Also on Tuesday, the world’s fourth tennis player Simona Halep is taking on Slovakian Jana Cepelova. Three Romanians who played in the tournament’s first round, namely Ana Bogdan, Monica Niculescu, Irina Begu were eliminated without winning a set. Patricia Tig withdrew from the game while she was being led by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 6-1, 1-0. (Translated by D. Bilt & V. Palcu)