Romanian Party USR Warns of Censorship Risk After Judicial Council Criticism

The USR party in Romania has strongly criticized a decision by the Superior Council of Magistracy's (CSM) judges' section, which accused political parties, journalists, and civic organizations of launching an "unprecedented attack on the independence of justice." USR contends that this move by the CSM creates a dangerous precedent and opens the door to censorship.

In a statement, USR expressed deep concern over the CSM's decision to name specific political parties, politicians, journalists, publications, and civic organizations as perpetrators of a campaign to discredit the judiciary. The party noted that some individuals outside of USR were falsely categorized as affiliated with the party, simply based on the proximity of their public stances.

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Dreptul la opinie al politicienilor este garantat constituțional. La fel și libertatea presei și dreptul la liberă exprimare al organizațiilor civice și al oricărui cetățean.

USR asserted its long-standing defense of judicial independence, recalling its parliamentary opposition to laws aimed at the political subordination of magistrates. The party described its inclusion on a list of "enemies of justice" as an "absurd irony" and a "real risk of abuse of power and censorship." They emphasized that the right to opinion for politicians, freedom of the press, and freedom of expression for civic organizations and citizens are constitutionally guaranteed.

The party warned that when an authoritative judicial body positions itself against all critical opinions and labels democratic public debate as a campaign, it crosses the line of legitimate defense. USR called for a serious public debate, stating that a decision dividing the press into "good and bad" and naming political actors and media outlets as enemies of justice exceeds acceptable limits.

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Când o instituție cu autoritate în cadrul puterii judecătorești se poziționează împotriva tuturor celor care exprimă opinii critice, indiferent de fondul acelor opinii, și califică drept campanie exercițiul democratic al dezbaterii publice, apare un risc real de abuz de putere și de cenzură.