Romanian Magistrates Stage Unprecedented Protest Against Judicial Changes

BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Magistrates protested outside courthouses
across Romania on Friday and many prosecutors will stop work next
week, in an unprecedented protest against changes in judicial
legislation that have raised alarm bells over the rule of law.

Romania’s government used an emergency decree to alter the
legislation on Tuesday, mostly stripping prosecutors of more of
their powers. It was the latest in a series of changes the ruling
Social Democrats have made in the past two years that have
triggered massive street protests.

The European Commission, U.S. State Department and thousands of
Romanian magistrates have said the changes threaten the
independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.

“Sudden changes made to judicial laws through an emergency
decree, without consulting the Superior Magistrates Council and the
body of magistrates, have a major impact on the ability of the
overall prosecuting body to fulfil its constitutional duties,”
Bucharest prosecutors said in a statement.

The February decree, put forward by Justice Minister Tudorel
Toader, changes the appointment process of chief prosecutors and
removes most oversight of a prosecuting unit that investigates
magistrates, something critics say was created to intimidate.

Judges and prosecutors were gathering outside courthouses across
the country on Friday in silent protest, holding banners that read
“Independence,” “Rule of law,” “An independent judiciary has
independent prosecutors” and “Mister minister, enough.”

Prosecutors in cities from capital Bucharest to the small
eastern Romanian city of Suceava will not work cases except
emergencies from Monday for three to seven days. Many judges will
also follow suit.

Prosecutors’ and judges’ associations were meeting to decide on
further forms of protest.

Romania is regularly ranked one of the European Union’s most
corrupt states, and Brussels has kept its justice system under
special monitoring since it joined the bloc in 2007.

The country’s anti-corruption prosecuting agency, DNA, has
convicted thousands of public officials, including ministers and
lawmakers, across party lines for high-level graft.

Their efforts have won praise from Brussels, diplomats and
foreign investors, but disdain from most local politicians.

The Social Democrats say the changes are intended to curb abuses
committed by magistrates. The party has so far ignored European
Commission recommendations to reconsider the changes.