Former Justice Minister Iordache: Threshold for abuse of office could be increased to RON 400,000. PM Grindeanu: CCR decision will turn into draft bill

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The threshold for abuse of office is to be included in the law on this offense, and the threshold ‘should be high enough to avoid inappropriate criminal files, former Justice Minister Florin Iordache said on Thursday.

The current MP said “the level should be, in my opinion, of at least RON 200,000 or even higher, of RON 400,000.”

Let’s recall that GEO 13 had set a threshold of RON 200,000 over which the abuse of office is considered offence. The protests in the streets against emergency ordinance 13 gathered hundreds of thousands countrywide for weeks.

Asked if the threshold id necessary, Iordache replied: “It’s not clear now? Now it’s specific and the Constitutional Court motivation will show it pretty clearly,” he added.

“The threshold is not for a specific individual, it should be high enough to avoid inappropriate criminal files,” the former minister said.

The PSD MP said they are waiting for the law to be approved, currently the bill is at the Justice Ministry. “Unfortunately, if we wait too long, the holidays are approaching. The fast solution would be that the ministry submits an emergency ordinance. Can anyone afford to let go another summer and to have unconstitutional articles in the criminal code?” Iordache asked.

The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) rejected on Tuesday the objection of unconstitutionality raised by Bombonica Prodana, former wife of PSD leader Liviu Dragnea, regarding the lack of a threshold for damages regarding the abuse of office, stating that it is not its duty to decide, recommending Parliament to set such a threshold, sources say.

The CCR discussed on Tuesday the objection of unconstitutionality regarding the lack of a threshold on damages following the abuse of office raised by Bombonica Prodana, the former wife of PSD leader Liviu Dragnea, in the file in which he is tried for instigating to abuse of office.

PM Grindeanu: CCR decision will turn into draft bill

The Constitutional Court decision regarding the threshold for abuse of office will become a draft law, will get the government go-ahead and then will be submitted to parliament, Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu said on Thursday.

“Currently there is a draft bill filed by the Justice Ministry, it was on public debate, all institutions have had their say, be them CSM, the High Court, the Public Ministry, DNA, DIICOT. What does this draft include? The decisions of the CCR and the Criminal Procedure Code. Several days ago the CCR ruled. My position, as well as of the Justice Minister, is to wait and see the CCR motivation. The CCR decisions are binding. There should be a debate so that the result is a draft bill to get the government’s go-ahead and to be submitted to parliament,” Grideanu said.

In regard to the renovation of penitentiaries, the Premier said the government intends to access European funds and a letter on this issue has been sent to the European Commission.

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