Romanian PM, cabinet to resign after court blocks EU justice reforms News
Romanian PM, cabinet to resign after court blocks EU justice reforms

[JURIST] Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu [official profile] said Thursday that he and his Cabinet [current members with links to profiles] will resign after the country's Constitutional Court [official website] ruled Wednesday that rejected reforms to the justice system designed to facilitate Romania's entry to the European Union (EU) [official website]. The EU had mandated the reforms to create an "independent, impartial and efficient" justice system in order for Romania to join the EU as planned in 2007 [JURIST report]. Tariceanu said that new elections are necessary in order for the coalition pursuing Romania's EU admission to gain the two-thirds majority necessary for Parliament to overrule the court's decision and pass the reforms. In the meantime Tariceanu appealed to the Romanian parliament to restart the justice reform process [press release]. Currently, the Constitutional Court is dominated by the former ruling Social Democratic Party [official website] and rejected reforms including implementing retirement ages for judges and increased competition in their appointments. The EU said it would examine the Romanian court's ruling. AP has more.