Romania cracks down on violence
The Romanian MPs are taking new measures against violence
Bogdan Matei, 05.06.2025, 14:00
Road-rage brawls, people fighting over parking places, domestic violence, teenage students attacking their teachers, protesters fighting riot police – are all part of daily news bulletins in Romania. Sociologists have also confirmed a general state of nervousness and anxiety fueled by economic, political, and affective frustrations and sometimes fostered by aberrant instigation on social media platforms.
Statistics show that Romania is not necessarily a country more prone to violence than others in Europe, but the upward trend of violent deeds has become a certainty though.
On Wednesday, the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest endorsed a series of amendments to the law on fighting this scourge. Under a suggestive title, ‘Romania without violence’, the new law provides tougher penalties for battery, attacks and other forms of violence.
With 286 yes votes, one against and one abstention, the new law has been endorsed by a huge Parliament majority, as MPs stood in its favour irrespective of their political affiliation.
The new law package provides a series of amendments to the Penal Code and the right instruments to the competent authorities who are now able to effectively fight violence in all its forms.
Under the new amendments, in criminal files in which the penal action is conditioned by a complaint, that complaint can be withdrawn only in the presence of a prosecutor.
Battery or any other violent actions are punishable by prison from six months to three years or by fines as compared to the previous maximum two year sentences.
At the same time, the Romanian MPs agreed the violent deed that caused traumatic lesions, which affected a person’s health who is subsequently in need of 90 days of medical care at the most, be punishable by prison from one to five years or by fines.
The law also provides for prison sentences between six months and three years, if the victim is a minor, the act is carried out in public, or the perpetrator carries a fire weapon, an object or a substance, which could endanger one’s life, health or physical integrity. Repeat offenders will be facing higher prison sentences from 6 months to 5 years for violating restriction and restraining orders. The Chamber of Deputies is a decision making body for the new amendments.
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