Romania’s justice minister Florin Iordache said yesterday that the draft project on amending the Criminal Code would not be submitted anywhere, as the Ministry wants a more extensive debate.

Journalists tried to ask Iordache a series of questions on the draft law, after contradictory information appeared related to this bill. The Justice Ministry had announced that it was no longer interested in the topic, but the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) later announced that a draft project had been submitted at CSM and that it would set up a date for a discussion on its approval.

The announcement of the Justice Ministry came a few hours after the justice minister said that the draft project, which failed to be passed as an emergency ordinance due to the massive protests, would be introduced in public debate on Monday and would remain in public consultation for 30 days.

On January 31, the Government passed an emergency ordinance that brought significant changes to the Criminal Code and partly decriminalized abuse of office. The Government repealed the ordinance on Sunday, after massive street protests, and announced that the changes to the Criminal Code would be made by law and voted by the Parliament.

editor@romania-insider.com