Romanian Liberals To Challenge Senate Head’s CSAT Vice Presidency

"In our opinion, the ordinance through which the president of the Senate becomes vice president of the High Council for National Defense is an aberration. It was issued for the sole purpose of giving satisfaction to one man, Mircea Geoana. We have gathered the needed signatures. The text in the notice is complete and, when the 48-hour interval for challenges begins, we will file this challenge," Scutaru said in a press conference at the Parliament Palace.

The lawmaker added the presidents of the two chambers of Parliament will sign and announce the draft law in a plenary Parliament meeting Tuesday or next Monday.

In his turn, Tudor Chiuariu, former justice minister, said the liberals’ notice mainly refers to the violation of article 1 of the Constitution, which refers to the principle of power separation in the state, but the challenged ordinance also violates the provisions of articles 71 and 115 of Romania’s fundamental law.

The Romanian senators enacted Monday the emergency ordinance allowing the president of the Senate to become vice president of the High Council for National Defense (CSAT).

The Senate approved the draft law as deciding chamber.