In the speech delivered at the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) sitting on Tuesday, President Klaus Iohannis told magistrates not to let themselves intimidated by political influences and threats, as Romania has no chance but being a country with a consolidated rule of law and an independent justice system. “I want you to be by my side, as I shall be your institutional partner as well. We must stick together and oppose, together, with all our strength to any attempt of realities’ distortion (…) And you don’t have only me, but also millions of citizens who went to polls on November last year,” the Romanian president pointed out. Klaus Iohannis also asked CSM to take action when illegal information leaks of the criminal files are published in media.
He also said that state institutions must not be identified with a certain leader’s image, as they don’t belong to leaders. “It is my constitutional obligation to defend the independence of the justice system. A magistrate is as independent as he chooses to be. It is my duty to make sure that Justice will have proper leaders. Institutions must not be personalized, identified with a certain leader’s image. Only this way we can avoid manipulation and sideslips,” Iohannis stated.
The Romanian head of state further said that one of the major targets of the judicial system is Cooperation and Verification Mechanism’s lifting. In his view, Romania should be evaluated with the objectivity that it deserves.
Klaus Iohannis also submit a suggestion in the CSM sitting, saying that Romania’s Prosecutor General should be member of the Supreme Council of National Defense (CSAT), while CSM, the High Court of Cassation and Justice and the General Prosecutor’s Office should have the right to initiate legislation.
PM Victor Ponta replied on Tweeter that President Iohannis’ ideas are correct and that he will endorse these proposals.
Members of the Superior Council of Magistracy elected a new leadership on Tuesday and it is also expected to present its 2014 activity report. The terms of CSM president Adrian Bordea and of vice-president Gheorghe Muscalu came to an end. So, judge Marius Tudose was elected the new CSM president, while prosecutor Bogdan Gabor is the new CSM vice-president.
CSM judge Horatiu Dumbrava asked for President Iohannis’ help to limit attacks on Justice, suggesting that politicians who attack the justice system should be compelled to resign or should be sanctioned. “Attacks against the independence of Justice increased in 2014 (…) We need a concrete sanctions system to include contraventional sanctions or even interdictions of those politicians or high dignitaries who are attacking Justice independence (…) I firmly ask for your support so that Justice should have the necessary tools to stop or, at least, to decrease these attacks,” Dumbrava told Iohannis.
In her turn, Livia Stanciu, head of the Supreme Court assured that magistrates would never negotiate the independence of the justice system “not even for the sake of a political peace.”