JusMin Toader meets Liviu Dragnea, ironic on President Iohannis’ criticism

Justice minister Tudorel Toader has had a meeting with PSD chairman Liviu Dragnea, shortly after President Klaus Iohannis  had criticised him on Tuesday.

Toader told journalists that the meeting with PSD chairman had tackled the Constitutional Court sitting on Wednesday to pronounce a ruling on the PM’s referral over a constitutional conflict between the parliament and the supreme court on the formation of the five-judge panels.

Yet, the minister denied to say if he will go or not to endorse the Government’s stance at the constitutional court’s debate.

„I had a short meeting with Liviu Dragnea. We discussed what it should be discussed between the ruling party chairman and the minister of Justice, who, even if he is independent, he takes part of a political Government. Tomorrow the constitutional conflict will be judged at the Constitutional Court. This has been the main topic of discussion. We talked about the procedure, about who is going on the Government’s behalf to endorse the referral. We cannot talk about the content of the ruling,” Toader said.

However, he refused to say who is going to the CCR on the Executive’s behalf, saying it doesn’t matter who’s going, but the stance to be endorsed. „The endorsement is in the limit of the law. There is no new elements, you can have new arguments, but this is a technical issue,” the minister added.

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has notified the Constitutional Court, in early October about a judicial conflict between the parliament and the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ – Supreme Court) regarding the way the new provisions on the establishment of the 5-judge panels are enforced. The move comes less than a week ahead of the start of procedures in court regarding the appeal submitted in the file PSD leader Liviu Dragnea was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in jail, digi24.ro reports.

Dragnea’s appeal will be judged by a 5-judge panel.

On the other hand, Toader has ironically commented president Iohannis’ fresh accusations, that „the approach of the Justice Minister is rather beside the law”, stating that the head of state „is the most authorized voice in the state” and that he doesn’t know what arguments could exist so that Iohannis should not be believed.

„The head of state knows very well what are the limits of law. He is the most authorized voice in the state. And I don’t know what arguments you might have not to believe him, even without investigating, like in the Bible”, Toader said, also avoiding to say if he had personally talked to Iohannis.

„We have been talking through mass media. I don’t want to inventory of all that that the highest dignitary in the state has said”.

President Klaus Iohannis has said previously on Tuesday he has no intention to approach the Justice Minister’s request to revoke Prosecutor General, Augustin Lazar, until a verdict is issued on the appeal filed by the latter. The head of state said the steps made by the minister are puzzling.

“I do have an opinion to make public at the right moment, but the approach of the Justice Minister is rather beside the law in terms of propositions for appointment and revocation”, Iohannis said.

No comment about the ordinance on amnesty and pardon

Justice minister has also denied saying something about the emergency ordinance on amnesty and pardon, avoiding to say if PM Dancila or someone else had urged him to give such a GEO. Toader said he will answer to that on the right moment.

„Can you imagine what great information I will give you now if I say yes or no? I don’t think you can complain I haven’t had public stances and reactions. But one step at a time. I will provide an answer at the right moment,” minister Toader replied when asked if he will give a GEO on amnesty and pardon and if PM Dancila has asked him to or someone else.