In an official statement regarding the current context of the independence of the Romanian judiciary and the status of judges and prosecutors, the professional association Magistrats Européens pour la Démocratie et les Libertés (MEDEL) strongly condemns the constant campaign to denigrate the Romanian judicial system, the Supreme Council of Magistrates (CSM) said on Wednesday.
"In its message, MEDEL strongly condemns the ongoing campaign to denigrate the Romanian judiciary, a campaign which, according to the organization, was relaunched in July 2025 by the ruling parties under the pretext of cutting the budget deficit. The organization warns that this sentiment of political hostility, fomented including by high-ranking officials, threatens the independence of the judiciary, erodes public trust and affects the legitimacy of the judicial system - a key component of the rule of law," the CSM said in a release.
Also, MEDEL brings to mind its previous positions on Romania and calls on the authorities to fully respect international standards regarding the independence of the judiciary and the freedom of expression, as set out in the opinions and recommendations of European and international institutions, the CSM notes, adding that MEDEL referenced in particular Opinion No. 18 (2025) of the Consultative Council of European Judges, underlining that unbalanced critical commentary by politicians is irresponsible, undermines public trust and may constitute attacks on the constitutional order, in particular with regard to the separation of state powers.
"The statement draws attention to the fact that over the past three years, the constant campaign of vilification of the magistrates, combined with repeated and substantial amendments to the statutes of judges and prosecutors, affects their ability to exercise their job independently and undermines the principles of legal stability and predictability. MEDEL also warns that hate speech and public humiliation can encourage disobedience to court rulings and even violence against representatives of the judiciary, who are falsely portrayed as the main cause of budgetary constraints," the cited source added.
At the same time, MEDEL calls on the Romanian authorities to respect international standards and to cease pressure tactics that destabilize and delegitimize the judicial system, the CSM goes on to note, saying that it is "essential" that the messages sent by international professional organizations are known by the public opinion, as they emphasize the importance of safeguarding the independence of justice, respect for the status of magistrates and of maintaining an institutional dialogue based on responsibility and good faith.
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