Debates on the judiciary
Debates on the dysfunctions in the justice system continue in Bucharest.
Ştefan Stoica, 17.12.2025, 14:00
Expected to engage in the debate on serious issues in the justice system, and particularly to spark a serious inter-institutional discussion on the matter, in line with his constitutional role as mediator, president Nicușor Dan has renewed his invitation to magistrates to attend a debate on this topic. Romanian society is acutely feeling the shock of revelations from within the judicial system about the toxic relationship between some of its prominent figures and the political sphere, as well as how repeated changes of case judges allow major corruption files to prescribe. President Dan believes legislative adjustments are needed, but the justice system must be managed from within.
“At present, we have elected structures both at the level of the Superior Council of Magistracy and the courts, and here it is essential that the best magistrates reach leadership positions through the selection process and steer the justice system. On the other hand, there is a legislative aspect and some legislative changes that, obviously, we will operate once we have agreement to do so. However, I am not in favor of the judicial system as a whole yielding to the political realm. On the contrary, if there are legislative adjustments to be made, let us make them, but the justice system should govern itself”.
After initially reacting by accusing an attempt to destabilize the system, the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) is now acting on the issues highlighted in the controversial Recorder documentary and has decided to refer the Judicial Inspectorate for checks regarding the activity of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) chief prosecutor, Marius Voineag. An anti-corruption prosecutor, speaking under protected identity in the Recorder documentary, said that the Directorate chief had issued an internal order and sent it to all prosecutors, requiring them to report directly to him any requests to the judge for rights and freedoms to obtain wiretapping warrants targeting those under investigation. “Why should the chief prosector, who was politically appointed, be interested in doing that? To know the exact moment when such procedures are triggered and who is targeted? We do not believe that order has any other purpose than a need to assert control”, the anonymous prosecutor said.
Meanwhile, the need to amend the Justice Laws to strengthen accountability mechanisms, transparency and to reposition the citizen at the center of the justice process was underscored during a meeting between Senate President Mircea Abrudean and representatives of civic organizations Declic and Funky Citizens. These groups have launched a petition, already signed by 200,000 citizens, calling for changes in the legislation governing justice and in the leadership of certain institutions within the system. Mircea Abrudean said that the Justice Laws adopted in 2022 were designed with the best intentions and contributed to lifting the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, but this does not rule out the need for amendments where dysfunctions have been revealed in practice. (VP)
