The Venice Commission's President Gianni Buquicchio (in picture) said “I have learned with deep concern of various attempts to exercise pressure on the Constitutional Court of Romania and to undermine its independence,” in a statement released July 4. The statement was issued after Romania's Constitutional Court asked the Commission for support, following the recent actions of the Romanian Government. The Venice Commission is an institution dedicated to promoting democracy through law.

Buquicchio described a constitutional court's role as “fundamental” to safeguarding rights and a state's constitutional order. He pointed out that constitutional courts sometimes have to make decisions that are unpopular with the ruling majority but that “this has to be accepted by the other organs of the State and can in no way justify any interference with the independence of the Court.” The Venice Commission President also reminded that the “independence and irremovability” of the Constitutional Court's judges are protected by article 145 of Romania's Constitution. He finished with a request that Romania respects its own laws. “I call on Romania, which is a member state of the Venice Commission and of the Council of Europe as well as of the European Union, to fully respect its Constitution and the international standards on the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law,” said Gianni Buquicchio.

The Venice Commission, or the European Commission for Democracy through Law is the Council of Europe's advisory body on constitutional matters. Founded in 1990, the commission has played a lead role in the adoption of constitutions in Europe. The Commission meets four times a year at the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista, in Venice. Originally the Commission included 18 Council of Europe states, since then it has expanded and now has 58 members, in Europe, Central Asia, North Africa and beyond.

Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com

photo source: venice.coe.int