Romanian Deputies Adopt Law On Criminal Probe Against High-Officials

Social-democrat MP Eugen Nicolicea introduced an amendment to the draft law amending the law on ministers’ liability, which stipulates that, if a government member, against whom the head of state required a criminal probe, is deputy or senator, then the justice minister or the Prime Minister will require the competent Chamber of the Parliament to adopt the request for the start of a criminal probe.
 

If the high-official in question is the justice minister himself, then, the request will be submitted to the Prime Minister.
 

Several democrat-liberal MPs required that the draft law be resent to the committee for legal matters and wait for the stance of the Constitutional Court.
 

Deputies also approved an amendment based on which the provisions on the start of a criminal probe will also be applied on former ministers.
 

The draft law will get deputies’ final votes on Tuesday.
 

The Chamber of Deputies is decisional forum on this draft law.
 

The Constitutional Court Monday decided that the Public Ministry would notify the Chamber of Deputies or the Senate on the start of a criminal probe against current and former government members who are also MPs when the notification is forwarded.