Nicușor Dan sends back to Parliament the law criminalizing forced marriages and cohabitation

Romania’s President, Nicușor Dan, has sent back to Parliament for reconsideration the law criminalizing forced marriages and cohabitation. The head of state believes the legislation contains unclear wording, inconsistencies with current law and provisions that overlap with those in the Criminal Code.

The law provides prison sentences of one to seven years for people who force their children, including minors, to marry certain individuals, including in exchange for sums of money. In addition, transporting a person for the purpose of forcing them to marry would be punishable by one to five years in prison.

The president points out that this range differs from the one provided in the Criminal Code for human trafficking, where sentences range from five to 12 years. In his view, the differences could cause confusion in judicial practice. The Criminal Code does not allow the suspension of a sentence under supervision for certain offenses involving the exploitation of persons, while the new law would allow this measure and reduce the sentencing ranges.

Nicușor Dan also highlighted unclear wording in the warning messages that television and radio stations would be required to broadcast. Parliament must correct the provisions, after which the law will be sent back to Cotroceni for promulgation.