Romania’s Social Democrat-led parliament adopted changes to the country’s criminal code, ignoring warnings from experts and international institutions that they threaten the rule of law and prosecutors’ independence.
Romania was set for more political turmoil on Wednesday after the country’s Social Democrat-controlled lower parliamentary chamber adopted scores of changes to the Criminal Procedure Code in an unusual late-night vote on Tuesday.
Romania’s opposition has warned that the changes could have a negative impact on the rule of law in the country, a view shared by magistrates, experts and international institutions.
Leaders of the opposition Liberals and the Save Romania Union announced on Tuesday night that they plan to challenge the bill at the constitutional court, while activists called for more protests against the ruling Social Democrat Party.
Some Romanians however expressed doubts on Wednesday that protests could change the ruling party’s plans.
According to the changes adopted on Tuesday, courts of appeal cannot accept a case or change a verdict unless prosecutors offer new evidence.
Incriminating recordings that do not relate strictly to the investigated case cannot be admitted as evidence and a criminal investigation should not take longer than a year.
The accused will be also allowed to be present during the victims’ testimonies, the changes envisage.
Critics say this would practically put an end to most graft and organised crime investigations in the country.
“The consequences are difficult to evaluate. [The changes] create the basis not only for corruption offenders but also criminals and rapists to escape justice,” Liberal MP Raluca Turcan told media on Tuesday night.
“Starting from today, Romania has become a haven for criminals – raped women will have to give statements looking into the eyes of the aggressor, and, if you steal public money, you can’t be arrested any longer, you’re free to leave for Costa Rica,” the leader of the Save Romania Union, Dan Barna, said in parliament on Tuesday.
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