Romanian Constitutional Court chief meets Bolojan before integrity law ruling, sparking political uproar

The meeting

On Friday, 14 August, Constitutional Court (CCR) president Elena-Simina Tănăsescu met with interim PM and PNL leader Ilie Bolojan in the Senate office of Senate president Mircea Abrudean, who was away in Cluj. The meeting, first reported by stiripesurse.ro, a site owned by Iosif Buble, was not publicly announced. According to the cited source, the discussion concluded around 14:30, when Tănăsescu and Bolojan were seen leaving Abrudean's office one after another. The CCR issued a statement on Saturday, 15 August, following media inquiries, stating that Tănăsescu "rejects firmly and categorically any speculation regarding discussing cases pending before the Court outside the strict legal framework." The Court did not deny that the meeting took place.

Political backlash

The meeting drew swift condemnation from opposition politicians. PSD senator leader Daniel Zamfir wrote on Facebook that the meeting was aimed at "saving Fritz," referring to USR president and Timișoara mayor Dominic Fritz, who risks losing his mandate under the Integrity Law. Zamfir also noted that Tănăsescu had assigned herself the case file to be debated on Monday. PSD deputy Mihai Fifor demanded that the CCR explain publicly the circumstances and topics discussed, writing that the Constitutional Court "must clarify publicly in what circumstances this meeting was organized and, especially, what topics were discussed."

“Not through "sources". Not through explanations slipped to the press. Officially.”

AUR MEP Georgiana Teodorescu also called for urgent clarifications, asking about the purpose and duration of the visit and drawing a parallel to former president Klaus Iohannis's alleged consultations with a CCR judge.

Calls for resignation

The PACE-Întâi România parliamentary group in the Senate demanded the immediate resignations of both Tănăsescu and Abrudean, accusing the executive of "brutal interference in constitutional justice." The group described the meeting as a "clear attempt at influence trafficking at the highest level in the state" and called on prosecutors to self-notify. PACE also linked the meeting to PNRR funds worth two billion euros, claiming the timing, three days before the CCR rules on laws with major financial stakes, "destroys any appearance of impartiality and independence of the Constitutional Court." The group additionally requested a parliamentary inquiry and checks by the Senate's Constitutionality Committee.

Legal concerns

Lawyer and former CSM member Adrian Toni Neacșu highlighted that Tănăsescu serves as rapporteur judge on the Integrity Law case, while Bolojan is president of PNL, the party that filed the constitutional challenge alongside USR. Neacșu wrote that the CCR president "met secretly with the plaintiffs whose request she will judge on Monday." He argued that the location, the office of the PNL parliamentary leader, transforms the event from a protocol error into a systemic vulnerability.

The Integrity Law

The CCR is scheduled to resume debates on the Integrity Law on Monday, 17 August. The law's most contested provision strips elected officials of their mandate within 30 days if they have a final incompatibility or conflict of interest decision, even if that decision predates the new law. This provision directly affects Fritz. A second provision, known as the "Mirabela Grădinaru amendment," extends asset and interest declaration requirements to individuals who have "relationships similar to those between spouses" with dignitaries, without clearly defining the phrase. The amendment also covers the partner of President Nicușor Dan. The law was challenged jointly by 27 PNL and USR senators, and separately by President Nicușor Dan.