Romania’s ruling parties reject US criticism of judicial reform plans

The leaders of Romania’s ruling parties have rejected sharp US criticism of their plans for judicial reform, which have sparked major street protests against the government’s alleged bid to blunt anti-corruption efforts.

Tens of thousands of Romanians marched through their capital, Bucharest, and other towns and cities on Sunday, in the latest show of public anger against a government whose first year in power has been plagued by crises and scandals.

The government led by the populist Social Democrats (PSD) tried last winter to decriminalise some graft offences, but was forced to scrap the plan after it sparked the biggest demonstrations in Romania since its 1989 anti-communist revolution.

Now the PSD and a coalition partner known as ALDE want to give the justice minister more power to appoint and sack prosecutors and to oversee the work of magistrates; to shrink the remit of Romania’s well-respected anti-corruption prosecutor; and to allow a person with a criminal conviction to become president.

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Corrupt figures

Critics call the proposals a blatant bid to ease pressure on corrupt figures in politics and business, and potentially to allow PSD leader Liviu Dragnea to become president despite a 2012 conviction for vote rigging.

“This legislation ... threatens the progress Romania has made in recent years to build strong judicial institutions shielded from political interference,” the US state department said on Monday.

“We urge the parliament of Romania to reject proposals that weaken the rule of law and endanger the fight against corruption.”

On Tuesday, Mr Dragnea and ALDE leader Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, respectively the speakers of the lower and upper houses of Romania's parliament, said the legislature was "unpleasantly surprised" by Washington's criticism.

"The United States should trust the Romanian parliament, which is seeking to strengthen the independence of the judiciary and eliminate political influence in the functioning of justice," they said in a joint statement.

Concern

The US criticism “does not appear to be the result of a balanced, objective and comprehensive analysis of the facts, as much as an echo of certain opinions circulating in the Romanian public space”, they added.

The European Commission recently expressed concern for judicial independence in Romania, but the country's anti-corruption directorate continues to pursue powerful people despite intense pressure from the ruling parties.

Prosecutors froze Mr Dragnea’s personal assets this month after accusing him of embezzling EU funds from state projects, in a case based on investigations by the European Anti-Fraud Office. Mr Dragnea denies the charges.

Opposition and pro-government groups plan more protests in the coming weeks.