Chamber: Opposition tries to prevent debate of Criminal Code; majority rejects proposals through vote

The Chamber of Deputies plenary chamber started on Wednesday the debates on the amendments of the Criminal Code, after the Opposition requested removing them from the agenda and sending them back to the Special Committee. The majority vote decided to reject the two proposals. 

National Liberal Party (PNL) MP floor leader Raluca Turcan requested removing the project from the agenda. 

"PNL calls on you to remove from today's agenda the draft law concerning the Criminal Code, due to the violation of the regulatory provisions with regard to making available to MPs for debate of this report at least 24 hours prior. I would like to mention, as further argument to help you decide and vote in the favor of PNL's proposals that debates in the Special Committee for the amendment of the Justice laws on the Criminal Code ended last night, at a rather late hour, my colleagues thus not having enough time to see the entire report which was drawn up by the committee, and, unfortunately, if today, in the style which characterizes recent debates in the Chamber of Deputies, this draft law is not consistently, thoroughly debated, in full knowledge of the fact, we risk throwing the country into chaos and into the hands of the corrupt and criminals," Turcan said. 

The liberals' proposal was rejected, with 92 votes "against" and 50 votes "in favour". 

Save Romania Union (USR) deputy Stelian Ion requested resending the project to the committee, but this proposal was also rejected during the vote. 

"I would like to invoke another article from the Regulation, this report needs to be submitted at least two days before it being debated in the plenary chamber, in the case of an emergency procedure. On the other hand, yesterday the Special Committee meeting was established yesterday, thus breaking the 24 hour term provided for in the Regulation. I understand that you are in a hurry, but you must hurry by observing the law and complying with regulations. On the other hand, I invoke that fact that the report that we received an hour and a half ago contains certain mistakes concerning the amendments proposed by USR, I have identified at least two mistakes and this must be corrected in the Special Committee. (...) I propose we send to the special Committee this report for the mistakes to be corrected," Stelian Ion requested. 

After this proposal was also rejected by the plenary chamber, Raluca Turcan stepped on the podium with a black scarf and said: "You may consider this as mourning for the Romanian democracy if you manage today to pass the final vote."