Romanian PM Says Min Liability Law Should Be Independent Technocrat Made

He indicated that the image of government members was oftentimes affected by certain cases, and the later closing of the case after the charges were disproved, did not change the situation.

Tariceanu proposed to ministers, in the government meeting held Wednesday, the creation of a commission of independent experts, who would develop a new minister liability law.

"The idea that I wish to propose is for us to create a commission of independent experts that would propose a new minister liability law. If we, the government, make this proposition, the idea that the Executive is interested in protecting its members will immediately surface. This is not the case, but Romania needs a minister liability law," Tariceanu said.

A press release issued by the Government indicates that Taricenau asked justice minister Catalin Predoiu to present, within one month, a formula for the creation of a commission of independent experts that would develop a new law on minister liability.

Tariceanu informed the Cabinet that, when the Parliament rejected the Emergency Ordinance regulating the presidential commission on minister liability, the conflicts of interests in the old law persisted.

He stated that a clear, impartial procedure that would render the ministers more responsible is in the interest of Romanians and the members of the government, but this law must not leave room for political abuse that would affect the good functioning of the government.

"The government is, through the effects of its decisions, the most important public institution in Romania, making decisions that have directly touch the lives of citizens," Tariceanu said.

The leader of the democrat liberal group within the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, Cristian Radulescu said the his party notified the Constitutional Court regarding two legislative drafts, namely the amendments brought to the minister liability law and the law on dignitary wealth checking.

"Beyond aspects concerning constitutional law alone, we cannot help noticing that when dignitaries are concerned, the tendency is to make the procedure as complicated as possible. Any additional procedure gets us thinking about delays in the application of the law," said Radulescu.

He added that, for the minister liability law, links not mentioned by the Constitution were introduced, namely the Prime Minister and the justice minister, that article 16 was completely reintroduced, after having previously been dubbed unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court, and that, in the new law does not take into consideration the members of the government who are not members of Parliament as well, for whom the criticized text does not mention any procedures.

As for the law on the statement and checking of dignitary wealth, the democrat liberals point towards the phrase "unjustifiable income," saying it is not in accordance with constitutional provisions, and it needs to be replaced with the phrase "illicit nature of gain."

The Constitutional Court decided that the Public Ministry will notify the Chamber of Deputies or the Senate, depending on the case, to request criminal investigation of current and former members of the government who, when the notice is submitted, are also members of parliament.