PM Tariceanu: Romanian Cabinet to Resign After Ruling

(Initially published in http://www.romania-report.ro/ - Jul 7, 2005)

BUCHAREST, Romania Jul 7, 2005 — Romania's Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu said Thursday his Cabinet would resign and early elections would be called after the Constitutional Court ruled against the essential justice reforms required by the European Union.

Tariceanu said he will formally file resignation to President Traian Basescu this evening (i.e. July 7, 2005).

PM Calin Popescu-Tariceanu underlined that resignation was caused by yesterday Constitutional Court’s ruling to approve part of the Social-Democrats exceptions on the judiciary reform bill.

The Court's ruling delays critical justice reforms requested by the European Union, which Romania wants to join in 2007.

The EU has warned Romania that its admission to the bloc would be delayed by a year if it fails to reform its inefficient justice system and enforce antitrust rules.

Tariceanu met Thursday with President Traian Basescu to discuss the situation."The blocking of the justice reforms compromise our chances to get a good report from the European Union. There is only one solution, to return to the people" for a new vote, Tariceanu said. "People can vote on whether they want to keep this dirty (justice) system, dominated by the former ruling party. We don't want to simulate justice reforms."

The court, which is packed with people who are close to former president Ion Iliescu, declared certain parts of the justice laws to be unconstitutional. The judges stroke down passages which provided for competition for judicial appointments and a mandatory retirement age for judges were unconstitutional.

Justice Minister Monica Macovei said those measures were necessary to provide for competent judges and an end to political influence on the courts.

Sources: AP and TVR (Romanian public TV)