Romanian General Prosecutor: Lower House Speaker Will Not Be Criminally Investigated

A complaint regarding the vote on the pension law, which took place on September 15, 2010, had been filed with the Prosecutor’s Office by social democrat and conservative MPs in the Chamber of Deputies, as well as by an NGO and four individuals, says a Monday press release.

According to the complaints, Anastase claimed the electronic voting system was out of order and called for a vote through a show of hands. She allegedly acknowledged a higher number of MPs in the room, in order to meet the necessary quorum and adopt the law, although this was not the case.

The complaints also said Voinescu, as house secretary, allegedly reported a higher number of MPs present in the room, „thereby causing considerably harm, through the effects of the bill adopted in violation of the legal quorum and by seriously disturbing the Chamber of Deputies’ legislative activity.”

The Prosecutor’s Office said „an analysis of the evidence showed no criminal act had been committed in regard to the lack of quorum in the session, since the Chamber of Deputies Rules provide the procedure used in the legislative activity, as well as remedies in case MPs should challenge the observance of these procedures.”

The session’s minutes show there indeed was quorum for the vote on the pension law and it was not contested as per parliamentary procedures, but confirmed by rejecting a proposal to hold a new vote.