Consultations following the success of the referendum on justice

President Iohannis calls parliamentary parties for consultations

Corina Cristea, 31.05.2019, 12:19

On June 4th and 5th, the presidents of the political parties and groups represented in parliament are expected to take part in consultations with the countrys president, in order to establish the guidelines for the implementation of the national referendum on justice, held on May 26th, on the same day as the elections for the European Parliament.

More than 18 million Romanians were called to the polls to answer with yes or no the following questions: “Do you agree with banning amnesty and pardon for corruption offenses?” and “Do you agree with banning the adoption by the Government of emergency ordinances in the area of crimes, punishments and judiciary organization and with extending the right to challenge ordinances directly at the Constitutional Court?” Out of the 7 million people who voted at the referendum, some 6.5 million answered yes to both questions.

Here is president Klaus Iohannis:

“We are at a time now when we must decide how to implement what the people decided at the referendum. In order to find the best procedures, methods and solutions, I have decided to start consultations with the political parties, because it is quite obvious that what the people decided must be put into practice and therefore enshrined in the countrys Constitution. This is to be done in a first stage in Parliament. So, I have decided to send invitations for Tuesday and Wednesday next week, in order to find the best solutions, together.”

The results of the referendum were also the topic of a meeting held on Thursday between President Iohannis and Prime Minister Viorica Dancila. Ms Dancila has announced that there will be talks within the Social Democratic Party, and also with the partners in the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, about a decision that would reflect the will of the citizens, as expressed at the referendum.

Ludovic Orban, the leader of the National Liberal Party, the main right-wing opposition party in Romania, has stated that any initiative to amend the Constitution or the laws needed to transpose into reality the will of the citizens is priority zero, and therefore the National Liberal Party will fully support it. At the referendum, the Romanian citizens were quite clear that their will is to be led by honest people, by people who observe the law and that all those in positions of power who commit corruption offenses must be punished, the Liberal leader has stressed.

In fact, president Iohannis is confident that his attempt at amending the Constitution will not be hampered, because, he says, from the very beginning most politicians have stated they agree with the modifications, and the people voted overwhelmingly in favour of such changes.

(translated by Mihaela Ignatescu)