JusMin Pruna: I do not take political stand on electoral threshold; Parliament must decide

Justice Minister Raluca Pruna stated on Tuesday that the Parliament must decide on maintaining or amending the electoral threshold, adding that her statement on the subject was made from the position as guest at a debate on elections, in reply to a question. 

"I saw with some surprise that there was a news story. I made a statement, as a guest, not as a speaker, at the February 17 debate at the Central University Library of Bucharest, at the Carol Foundation. There I said, perhaps in a more flamboyant way, but the idea was, I said this: it is up to the Parliament to decide whether the elections are to be held in one or two rounds and the electoral threshold can also be debated because new parties have been created that, should they enter political life, they must certainly have a threshold allowing this. (...) I gave this answer in reply to an explicit question from the audience. Therefore, I do not take a political stand, it is not my prerogative to decide. (...) I expressed an opinion and, implicitly, I learnt a lesson: I will only answer questions that are directly concerning the Justice Ministry," at the Palace of Parliament. 

Minister Pruna also stated that, as a member of the Ciolos cabinet, she supports and will continue to support the point of view of the Prime Minister who was very clear on the topics connected to the elections in one or two rounds and the electoral threshold, namely, that it is up to the Parliament to decide. 

The Justice Minister rejected the thesis discussed in the public sphere by certain political analysts according to whom her statement was aimed at showing support for Monica Macovei, president of a newly-created party, M10. 

"I do not have the intention to comment on such a statement. I am not hiding, I worked with Monica Macovei and, let's say, I have an affiliation of ideas with Monica Macovei. But I, here, did not accept this position to support one or the other. I am here to serve the citizen and it is not my prerogative to support small or large parties. I do not support any party," Raluca Pruna added. AGERPRES