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[POLITICS] · Romania · 57 sources

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Romanian Senate passes integrity law with controversial Fritz amendment

The Romanian Senate has passed a revised integrity law, including the controversial 'Fritz amendment,' which mandates that public officials lose their positions within 30 days of a final court ruling regarding conflicts of interest or incompatibility. This provision is particularly significant as it applies retroactively to certain cases, potentially resulting in the loss of mandate for Timișoara Mayor Dominic Fritz.

The legislative move has sparked intense political debate and international concern. Leaders from the European People's Party (EPP) and Renew Europe have formally requested that the European Commission withhold 770 million euros in National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) funds from Romania. They argue that the amendment's retroactive application violates both EU law and the Romanian Constitution, suggesting the law may be used as a tool for political targeting rather than upholding the rule of law.

While supporters, including members of the PSD and PNL, argue the law is necessary to meet PNRR milestones and ensure institutional integrity, critics and opposition members from USR claim it reduces transparency. The new law replaces detailed asset declarations with 'public interest sheets' that provide summarized, less granular information regarding the wealth of officials.

Entities

Dominic Fritz · European Commission · European People's Party · Manfred Weber · National Integrity Agency · Renew Europe · Romania · Romanian Senate · Ursula von der Leyen

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