Romanian president refuses to approve judicial reforms

BUCHAREST: Romania’s centre-right President Klaus Iohannis refused Wednesday to approve in its current form a package of judicial reforms proposed by the government which Brussels says threatens the judiciary´s independence.

Iohannis said he would send the proposals to the Constitutional Court and would seek the opinion of European experts on the reform package, which was adopted by the left-wing government in December.

“These laws do not conform to the national consitutional framework nor to the relevant European standards,” Iohannis said in a televised statement.“This is why I´ve decided to send them to the Constitutional Court and to refer the matter to the Venice Commission,” he added, referring to an advisory body of the Council of Europe made up of independent experts.

The three bills passed in December by parliament — dominated by the ruling Social Democrats (PSD) — would “weaken the status of prosecutors”, “risk obstructing justice” and put in place structures “liable to intimidate magistrates”, Iohannis said.