Romanian Socialists won elections, not power over judiciary

The attempts of the Romanian Government to silence the judiciary and favour corruption over justice will be debated by the European Parliament today. It is time for the EU to stand by tens of thousands of Romanians protesting against the worst rule of law since the Socialists came to power.

Roberta Metsola MEP, the EPP Group Spokeswoman in the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee, will say: “Romanian citizens want a country where the rule of law and courts function, where corruption is fought and not condoned and where politicians work for the common good, not narrow personal interests. This is why they have been on the streets for more than a year. In freezing temperatures and snow, they flew EU flags because they believed in the values of Europe. The EU must not forget them. We must send them a clear message: you embody all that is right about Europe and we will not ignore you. The EPP Group will not ignore you.”

Traian Ungureanu MEP, an EPP Group key speaker during today’s plenary debate, will add: “The Socialists insist that their intention is to reform the justice system in Romania, that the reform puts the Romanian justice system in line with European norms. But the European norms that they invoke do not state anywhere that a government can change laws in order to suit itself. And our laws do not suit the Romanian Government as they do not spare its leaders from the law. Otherwise, why would the Social Democratic Party have to change governments twice in one year? The European Parliament now has to tell the Socialists that their government must do everything legally, that they won the elections, not power over the justice system.”