Romanian MPs will be able to hold positions in companies, as long as these do not undertake any commercial activities, Digi24.ro reported.

The initiators of the project argued it would cut back on the number of lawsuits opened following incompatibility rulings issued by the National Integrity Agency (ANI). However, ANI says MPs can’t fully exert their duties if they have business interests.

The law stipulating this new measure was signed by president Klaus Iohannis and will enter into force once it is published in the Official Monitor.

Romania’s Chamber of Deputies adopted this April a bill that abolished the notion of conflict of interest for civil servants. The notion was replaced with the phrase “the use of the position to favor some people”.

The amendment brings an important change to the Criminal Law, as the civil servants and elected officials can no longer be charged for using their positions to favor companies that they used to own or work for.

editor@romania-insider.com