Romania's High Court, Superior Magistracy Council react to PM’s statement

The High Court of Cassation and Justice and the Superior Magistracy Council (CSM) reacted on Friday, June 22, after prime minister Viorica Dancila and other ministers criticized on Thursday evening the High Court’s decision to sentence PSD leader Liviu Dragnea to jail for abuse of office. According to the High Court, justice is only made in court and judges are the only ones who decide whether the charges are substantiated or not. “The members of the Government or Parliament don’t have the right to assess if a court decision will be maintained or not in an appeal and don’t have the legal competency to rule that the law enforcement is arbitrary,” reads a statement of the High Court. The CSM’s prosecutor section also said the public statements that created the image of a justice system that is not independent and judges that rule arbitrarily are very serious and asked for a “balanced and reasonable approach” in the public debate, local Mediafax reported. The High Court of Cassation and Justice sentenced the Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Liviu Dragnea to three and a half years in jail for instigation to abuse of office, on Thursday. The decision is not final. Dragnea said he will not resign as head of PSD or president of the Chamber of Deputies. Romania’s ruling party leader will accelerate criminal code changes after new conviction editor@romania-insider.com (photo source: Adobe Stock)