President Klaus Iohannis held Monday a press conference. The head of state declared that he did not agree with the amendments to the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code, adding that they were new laws and we should have them enforced for a while first.
"I do not agree with the amendments to the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code. Codes are new laws and they must be allowed to run for a while to see if we need to target some changes. I cannot accept that lawmakers bring amendments to these acts in their interests. If they reach the promulgation, I will reject them "the president said in the press conference.
The most important statements by the president:
- to prevent misunderstandings, I have decided that when important bills get to me to be signed into laws I should make some statements about them .
About the law on financing political parties and elections campaigns, regulating the local government election and the political parties law :
-It was part of the drafts I have approached with the political parties during consultations.
- It is very important that these legislative amendments should lead to an improvement of the situation , to an increase in the parties performance, to an increase in transparency on the management of money, to an increase in performance of the political class.
- The laws have been enacted, but they are not perfect I know there have been debates about how they should sound like. Each one of them represents a progress in the right direction .
-The law on financing political parties was sent back to Parliament by me, because the form in which it had gotten to me was not a satisfying one. The Parliament amended the law and sent it back for promulgation.
The law on political parties does contain some amendments. The most important refers to the number of founders. The notion of local party is being introduced.
Local government election law is a good progress against the old form of legislation. We have an apparent novelty, the election of county council president is being done by the councilors themselves and not directly by voters. I believe that this is a welcome change.
About public utilities services law:
- The law: the mayor and the county council president may be members of the General Meeting of Shareholders when it comes to a company which deals with public utilities.
- I have serious doubts about the constitutionality of this bill. I will request the constitutionality checking of this bill. I need to clear things in terms of the background issues.
-The incompatibilities should be cleared up after a public debate.
- I will refer the bill to be reviewed by the Constitutional Court of Romania.
On the amendments to the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code:
- I do not endorse such amendments
-The Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code are new laws and we should let them be enforced for a while and see what needs to be amended.
- If they get to promulgation, I will not promulgate them.