Romania - December 2025
European court ruling confirms judicial pressure, as documentary sparks protests
On 15 December, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Romania violated a judge’s freedom of expression by sanctioning him in 2019. The judge was sanctioned for social media posts, commenting on the justice system’s functioning and defending institutional independence, for allegedly ‘impairing the dignity’ of judicial office. The Court upheld the right of judges to express themselves on matters of public interest and stressed the chilling effect of disciplinary sanctions. The judgment coincided with mass protests, with tens of thousands demanding judicial reform, after a Recorder documentary and an open letter by hundreds of judges and prosecutors exposed political control and intimidation in the judiciary. President Nicușor Dan pledged to investigate systemic abuses, held consultations with the judiciary on 22 December and committed to further discussions in January 2026 on reforming the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM), the body overseeing judicial discipline.
Sources: Reuters (1), Reuters (2), Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, Verfassungsblog, European Court of Human Rights, Facebook
