Romania Govt Changes Rules on Anti-Corruption Referendum

The Romanian government on Thursday adopted a decree modifying the threshold needed for the referendum on justice issues to be held in tandem with the European Parliament elections on May 26.

According to the modifications adopted by Prime Minister Viorica Dancila by decree, the referendum will only be valid if at least 30 per cent of those enrolled on the electoral register appear at polling stations.

Before the modifications were made, the referendum would have been valid if just 30 per cent of citizens were enrolled on the national voters' lists.

The referendum on justice issues was launched on April 25 by President Klaus Iohannis and contains two questions: "Do you agree to ban amnesties and pardons for corruption offences?" and "Do you agree with the ban on the adoption by the government of emergency ordinances in the field of crimes, punishments and judicial organization and the extension of the right to appeal directly to the Constitutional Court?"

It follows numerous attempts by the Social Democrat-led government to water down anti-corruption laws and grant amnesties to those convicted of corruption.

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said the modifications won't in any way affect citizens' right to vote.

"The act adopted today stipulates only the technical details which will ensure the correct, democratic and transparent electoral process," she said.

The modifications to the referendum were made on the same day by the Permanent Electoral Authority, AEP, which has published a draft emergency ordinance for holding the referendum on Justice issues.

The document says public authorities cannot pronounce during the electoral campaign for or against the referendum. This includes President Iohannis, who initiated the...

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