Romania Senate Adopts Ordinance On Former Secret Police Files

The draft act replaces provisions of Law 187/1999 which the Constitutional Court ruled unconstitutional in February.

 

The act stipulates the National Council in charge with overseeing Securitate files, or CNSAS, is to have a mere administrative role, without being allowed to pass ruling of political police.

 

CNSAS can only observe the attribute of former worker or collaborator with the Securitate, the act noted. 

 

The act includes two amendments that stipulate CNSAS can no longer verify county secretaries of the former Communist Party, or PCR, and that priests are subject to verification only if the cult they belong to files an official request.

 

Romania’s government adopted in March CNSAS’ new organic structure.

 

“CNSAS’ role is only to observe, based on archive documents, if someone collaborated with former secret police Securitate or if he/she worked for the police and thus they contributed to limiting a person’s rights and freedom (…) while the court is the one that makes a biding ruling regarding the quality of collaborator or worker with Securitate police,” Marius Oprea, adviser to Premier Calin Popescu Tariceanu said at the time.