The special parliamentary committee for changing the justice laws will finalize the criminal procedure code by the end of this week, according to the committee’s president Florin Iordache.

He said that all changes to the criminal code and criminal procedure code will be adopted by the end of June when the Parliament goes into recess, local Hotnews.ro reported.

The changes to the criminal procedure code include implementing a European directive on the presumption of innocence, according to Iordache.

Florin Iordache also said the committee has received many amendments from the Superior Magistracy Council (CSM) that will be included in the draft bill, which will then be sent to the Senate for the final vote. The Chamber of Deputies will also have to vote the changes and then the law will be sent to president Klaus Iohannis for signing. However, should the president ask the Parliament to review these bills, the Parliament will reconvene in an extraordinary session.

The Senate has already voted on the changes to the civil code and civil procedure code and the Chamber of Deputies will vote on them this week.

The criminal code is the last to be discussed by the special committee. It also includes some of the most important changes such as redefining the abuse of office crime.

The ruling coalition made of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) tried to change the criminal codes by emergency ordinance in January 2018. Florin Iordache was justice minister at that time but he was forced to resign after massive street protests and the ordinance was repealed. The Parliament then took over the responsibility of changing these important laws, which are expected to have a significant impact on the way justice in Romania functions.

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editor@romania-insider.com