Romanian President Calls On Magistrates Council To Hold Elections After Court Ruling

The Romanian Constitutional Court will rule on January 19 on a notification brought to the recently validated list of new High Council of Magistrates (CSM) members.

Basescu added he always waits for the Constitutional Court to rule on different matters before signing bills into laws.

"Just as I cannot sign a bill into law until the Constitutional Court issues a ruling, you cannot overlook the Court either," Basescu told Council members.

The High Council of Magistrates has set a meeting for Friday, January 7, to elect its president and vice-president.

Democrat liberals, who challenged the list of members, said judges Lidia Barbulescu and Dan Lupascu, as well as prosecutor Dan Chiujdea - who have also been elected Council members in 2004 - cannot be reelected.

Law 317/2004 regulating the High Council of Magistrates, which was amended in 2005, states that Council members are elected to a six-year term and cannot be reelected.

The Constitution reads that Council members are elected to a six-year term but does not mention issues regarding reelection or term extension.

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