Romanian PNL Deputy Defends Right to Legal Action Amidst Party Dispute

Romanian PNL deputy Ionuț Stroe has strongly defended the right of party members to seek legal recourse, stating that "addressing a court is not sabotage." His remarks came in response to a statement from the PNL leadership that criticized members who filed lawsuits challenging decisions made at the party's extraordinary congress on June 21, 2026. Stroe argued that the leadership's communication was an attack on a fundamental principle of democratic societies.

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Addressing a court is not sabotage.

"I saw the PNL leadership's statement today, which is not an attack against us, those of us who have different opinions from Bologan and the rest, it is an attack against a fundamental principle, the right of every citizen in a democratic society and also of every party member, if they are, as in this case, to address the courts of law," Stroe said during an interview on Antena 3.

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I saw the PNL leadership's statement today, which is not an attack against us, those of us who have different opinions from Bologan and the rest, it is an attack against a fundamental principle, the right of every citizen in a democratic society and also of every party member, if they are, as in this case, to address the courts of law.

He further asserted that appealing to a court is a constitutionally guaranteed right and that exercising these procedural rights, clearly outlined in laws governing political parties, cannot be classified as an attack on the party. Stroe accused the leadership of making themselves look foolish by suggesting otherwise. He believes that by labeling those seeking justice as acting against the party, the leadership implies that the judiciary should not exist or should only function according to their wishes.

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It is a right guaranteed by the Constitution and the exercise of these procedural rights provided for in black and white by laws regulating the activity of political parties, can never be qualified as an attack on the party or whatever other nonsense they wrote there.

This dispute follows legal actions initiated by 16 dissenting parliamentarians who sought to suspend decisions made by the PNL's National Political Bureau regarding sanctions against those who allegedly voted for the investiture of a "Veștea" government. The court initially ruled in their favor, a decision the PNL announced it would appeal. Subsequently, the parliamentarians filed another action seeking to suspend decisions related to the convening of the National Extraordinary Council and Congress. The court is scheduled to hear this new request on July 3.

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And when the current leadership of PNL calls us, those of us who are practically seeking justice before the judges, they are actually telling us that the judiciary should not exist or should exist according to Bolojan's will and that access to justice should be reserved only for those who suit him or those who lead the party at this moment.