As the Council of Europe's advisory body on constitutional matters, the Venice Commission will publish an official opinion in October on constitutional principles and the rule of law in Romania. This opinion is being prepared in response to requests submitted last month by the Prime Minister of Romania and by the Council of Europe’s Secretary General.
 

In the latest development this week, in response to complaints from the Romanian constitutional court about attempts to intimidate judges, including through death threats, Venice Commission President Gianni Buquicchio expressed his dismay: “It is for me surprising, and even shocking that for the second time in a short period of time the constitutional court of a member state of the Council of Europe and the European Union feels obliged to appeal to the Venice Commission in order to protect its independence.”

The complaints were made around the time of a decision to certify or annul a referendum to remove the president. The referendum, held on 29 July, failed to reach the 50% voter turnout required for it to be valid. The government is contesting the validity of the voters' rolls used to calculate turnout. The constitutional court has said it needs until 31 August to verify the voters’ registers. 
 

Venice Commission Statement, 7 August 2012

Statement by the Secretary General, 6 July 2012