AEP, backed by the SCM: party registration could be handled by the Permanent Electoral Authority

The President of the Permanent Electoral Authority, Adrian Țuțuianu, announced on Friday that representatives of the Superior Council of Magistracy support the proposal to transfer the registration of political parties to the PEA. The measure would simplify and clarify the procedure, without allowing the institution to make discretionary decisions, the head of the PEA stated.

According to the presented draft, applications would be analyzed by panels of the PEA, in public hearings. Interested persons could intervene to support or challenge the registration of a party, and the application would be resolved within no more than 30 days.

The PEA's decision could be challenged within five days at the Bucharest Court of Appeal, which would have to issue a final ruling within a further 15 days. Thus, the registration of a party or the amendment of its documents could be decided in approximately 50 days.

Țuțuianu emphasized that the dissolution of parties should remain under the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court and the Bucharest Court of Appeal. However, the PEA would be granted the right to notify the court in such cases. He also proposed rules to eliminate “clone parties” by requiring distinct and available names and electoral signs.