Constitutional Court head warns over pressure on Big Brother law

Augustin Zegrean (photo), the President of Romania’s Constitutional Court (CCR), denounces pressures of politicians and institutions on the national security laws’ matter: “A judge has complained at the European Commission over threats. The Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) accused us that we have created a legislative vacuum.” CCR head refused to tell the name of the judge who complained at the European Commission following pressures.

Zegrean on Thursday has stated that various state institutions put pressure on CCR. “Among them there is also the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI),” he said. “There has been issued a press release, right after the first Big Brother law,” said CCR President.

“I wasn’t threatened, but the institution was. It was not said “I’ll shoot you if you don’t do this or don’t say that”. But when it is written in a newspaper that we will be made accountable for it… This is not the reason why we meet here, but to analyze files and to find a solution. I take liability for my facts and for my words. We even analyze them with the greatest attention. For someone to question our good faith and our expertize… We are told that we make decisions based on the relationships the judges have with other state institutions. Even our expertise is questioned, I saw that a politician has written that I certainly have no idea what that law is referring to. All nine of us, together, we have with over 400 years of judicial experience,” said Augustin Zegrean.

He added that state institutions also put pressure on CCR. “I shall not join a contradiction with the state institutions, but unfortunately this was not understood. There is also the Romanian Intelligence Service, a press release has been issued, right after the first “Big Brother” law. We are told that we have created an exceptionally serious legislative vacuum, yet the law that we have declared as unconstitutional was not a law. It has been already a vacuum,” said CCR President.

Regarding the national security laws, PSD Executive President Liviu Dragnea on Thursday said that he does not want to give up the idea of having security laws, and that a formula in accordance with the Constitution and with the fundamental rights is needed. Dragnea argued that ‘we should not be “autistic” by ignoring the risks of the region where Romania is located’.