Romanian Senate president for BBC: The judiciary in Romania is not independent

Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, the president of the Senate and the leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE), said in an interview for BBC that the judiciary in Romania is not independent, and the National Anticorruption Department (DNA) works hand in hand with judges and the secret services. Talking to a BBC journalist about the recent events in Romania, Tariceanu rejected the idea that what happens in the country is the result of a battle between corrupt officials and a society fighting against corruption. "I regret having to say this, but the judiciary in Romania is not independent, and this is the clear issue which has to be addressed in the future,” Calin Popescu-Tariceanu said. According to him, DNA prosecutors work hand in hand with judges and team up with the secret services, failing to respect the civil liberties of the Romanian citizens. "The DNA and the intelligence services are now perceived as institutions which are not respecting the legal framework, are corrupt themselves, and are used as important leverage in the political fight in Romania.” Calin Popescu Tariceanu, who was Romania's Prime Minister from December 2004 until December 2008, was sent to court last year by DNA for lying under oath in his deposition related to a high-profile corruption case. DNA would have been one of the judicial institutions affected by the emergency ordinance adopted by the Government late last Tuesday, which partly decriminalized some corruption offences. However, the cabinet led by Sorin Grindeanu decided to repeal the ordinance after massive protests in the country. The measure didn’t calm down the protestors, who continued rallying on Sunday evening, the day when Romania saw the biggest protests in years. Most of them say that they no longer trust the Government, considering how they passed the emergency ordinance, during an evening meeting, without any chance for further debate. Actually, one of the most chanted slogans in Romania these days was “At night, like the thieves!” However, the Government doesn’t seem to take the idea of resignation into consideration, according to the recent statements of Prime Minister Grindeanu and PSD leader Liviu Dragnea.