Romanian SocDem leader doesn’t support a pardon that includes corruption sentences

Liviu Dragnea, the president of Romania's ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), said on Tuesday that he doesn’t support a pardon law that also includes corruption sentences. His statement came in the context in which the Romanian Parliament is discussing a draft bill on collective pardon. Social-Democrat senator Serban Nicolae recently proposed an amendment to this bill according to which people convicted for corruption would also be among those who will benefit from the planned pardon. The corruption offenses weren’t included in the initial draft law proposal. President Klaus Iohannis also said on Tuesday that "if the corrupt people would be pardoned, this would give a totally wrong signal to society." He added: "I count on the realism and good faith of MPs." The Government led by Sorin Grindeanu sent the draft bill on pardon to the Parliament at the end of January, after street protests determined the cabinet to give up granting pardon via emergency ordinance as initially planned. According to the Ministry of Justice, pardoning some prisoners would help reduce the prison overcrowding in Romania. However, Dragnea said on Tuesday that the pardon law is not enough to solve this problem. "I believe that the Ministry of Justice should have a discussion with the ECHR president and, together with colleagues from the Government and Prime Minister, develop a comprehensive plan to resolve the problem that also requires investments in prison infrastructure, and possibly the construction of new prisons," Liviu Dragnea said, reports local Mediafax. Romania's new justice minister Tudorel Toader also said on Tuesday that he doesn't agree to including people convicted for corruption among those to be pardoned, according to Digi24. He added that senator Serban Nicolae's proposal was a personal one, not endorsed by the governing parties. Before coming into force, the pardon law has to be voted by the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Solution to prison overcrowding in Romania: Some convicts to do time only in weekends Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com