Constitutional Court To Rule If Probe Requests For MPs Need Parliament Approval

Romania’s Senate asked the Constitutional Court to rule whether Parliament should or should not give its approval regarding the notices on the start of criminal investigation against ministers who are also MPs.

1 view

Senate’s quaestor Ioan Chelaru on Tuesday said that the chamber’s standing office took notice of a letter bringing forth a possible constitutional conflict regarding the start of criminal investigations against ministers who are also MPs.

The letter, signed by liberal Senator Puiu Hasotti and quaestor Chelaru, reads that according to article 109, section 2 from the Constitution, Romania’s president, the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate can ask the start of criminal investigation against Government members.

The letter reads that “in contradiction with these stipulations, Romania’s prosecutor general and the head of the National Anticorruption Department decided they are legally invested exclusively by the president to start criminal investigation against ministers without asking for Parliament’s approval.”

Chelaru said that Senate members consider that Parliament should also approve the start of criminal investigations against ministers who are also MPs, not only the president.

The official said that if the court rules in favor of Parliament granting it’s approval in such cases, then the criminal investigation of ministers will not longer be permitted.

In January, president Basescu asked interim justice minister Teodor Melescanu to start criminal investigation against eight current and former ministers. The eight dignitaries are: Adrian Nastase, former prime minister between 2000 and 2004, Miron Mitrea, former transportation minister between 2000-2004, former justice minister Tudor Chiuariu, acting labor minister Paul Pacuraru, acting IT&C minister Zsolt Nagy, politician Victor Babiuc, former economy minister Codrut Seres and former agriculture minister Traian Decebal Remes.

If you liked this story, please follow MEDIAFAX.RO on FACEBOOK »

The content of mediafax.ro is for your information only. Republishing or using this content is forbidden without express consent of MEDIAFAX. For this consent, please ask for it by mail at vanzari@mediafax.ro.