Romania Changes Criminal Code Despite Fierce Criticism

Romania's Social Democrat-led parliament on Wednesday adopted changes to the Criminal Code in an emergency meeting that took place a day earlier than scheduled - and despite criticism from the opposition, anti-corruption activists and foreign diplomats.

Opposition parties say the changes could seriously undermine the rule of law in Romania, a view shared by magistrates, many experts and international institutions.

The most contested change refers to the partial de-criminalisation of abuse of office - an offence that resulted in Social Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea receiving a three-and-a-half-year jail sentence on June 21.

The new code limits abuse of office to only when a public official obtains undue advantages for themselves or their family during working hours.

Abuse of office is also no longer applicable in cases of adoption of legislation or approval of government or parliamentary documents.

The ruling Social Democrats took only two days to pass 237 amendments through both chambers of parliament.

The Senate took a mere two hours on Tuesday to approve the bill while lawmakers in the Lower Chamber only received the key documents on Wednesday - one hour before the parliamentary session started.

Romania's ruling party has received much criticism since parliament on June 18, at a late-night emergency plenary session, also adopted changes to the Criminal Procedure Code.

Among other things, the changes bar the courts from accepting as evidence recordings that do not relate strictly to the investigated cases in different probes.

Opposition MPs told journalists they would appeal about the changes to both codes to the Constitutional Court.

"Starting today, there is no longer rule of law in Romania," the...