Romanian president: Decision on justice referendum will come after ‘thorough analysis’

20 March 2019

Romanian president Klaus Iohannis said he was “almost intent” on calling a referendum on justice on May 26, the day the EU Parliament elections are held in the country. However, he said he needed some time for a thorough analysis.

“I am almost intent on calling a referendum on May 26, when the EU Parliament elections are held; almost, please allow me a margin that is due to the need for a thorough analysis,” the president said, quoted by News.ro.

The president made the statement in answer to a question on what guarantees are there that a referendum on justice would take place soon. He was attending a debate at the OneWorld festival.

“The guarantee can only be me, because the president is calling the referendum,” he said. He also explained that he did not want to call a referendum that would not meet a quorum.

“I have started analyzing, together with my team at Cotroceni, what it would be like to call a referendum on the day of the EU Parliament elections. At first, there were relatively few enthusiasts for this idea, myself and two-three others, but I have managed to convince more [people] that we need to consider things very, very well. […] We are working intensively on this, we are analyzing options, dates, the legal side, and so on,” the president explained.

He also said he wanted to find partners for the idea of the referendum not only in the political parties but also in the civil society.

“If I am calling a referendum, then I want to have as partners not only the parties, probably the opposition ones more; I want to have the civil society as partner, the Romanians who want to send a clear signal,” he said.

He explained that the referendum can express the attitude of the people.

“I want the Romanian people to say clearly if they tolerate corruption and the corruption that changes laws to get away, or if we draw the line and say ‘enough’.”

President Iohannis launched the idea of a referendum on justice at the beginning of 2017, when the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) initiated the first changes to the country’s criminal codes. The referendum would ask the people to express their will on “continuing the fight against corruption and ensuring the integrity of public office.”

(Photo: presidency.ro)

 editor@romania-insider.com

Normal

Romanian president: Decision on justice referendum will come after ‘thorough analysis’

20 March 2019

Romanian president Klaus Iohannis said he was “almost intent” on calling a referendum on justice on May 26, the day the EU Parliament elections are held in the country. However, he said he needed some time for a thorough analysis.

“I am almost intent on calling a referendum on May 26, when the EU Parliament elections are held; almost, please allow me a margin that is due to the need for a thorough analysis,” the president said, quoted by News.ro.

The president made the statement in answer to a question on what guarantees are there that a referendum on justice would take place soon. He was attending a debate at the OneWorld festival.

“The guarantee can only be me, because the president is calling the referendum,” he said. He also explained that he did not want to call a referendum that would not meet a quorum.

“I have started analyzing, together with my team at Cotroceni, what it would be like to call a referendum on the day of the EU Parliament elections. At first, there were relatively few enthusiasts for this idea, myself and two-three others, but I have managed to convince more [people] that we need to consider things very, very well. […] We are working intensively on this, we are analyzing options, dates, the legal side, and so on,” the president explained.

He also said he wanted to find partners for the idea of the referendum not only in the political parties but also in the civil society.

“If I am calling a referendum, then I want to have as partners not only the parties, probably the opposition ones more; I want to have the civil society as partner, the Romanians who want to send a clear signal,” he said.

He explained that the referendum can express the attitude of the people.

“I want the Romanian people to say clearly if they tolerate corruption and the corruption that changes laws to get away, or if we draw the line and say ‘enough’.”

President Iohannis launched the idea of a referendum on justice at the beginning of 2017, when the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) initiated the first changes to the country’s criminal codes. The referendum would ask the people to express their will on “continuing the fight against corruption and ensuring the integrity of public office.”

(Photo: presidency.ro)

 editor@romania-insider.com

Normal
 

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