Parliament sends AEP request for presentation of report on November 2024 presidential elections

The joint permanent bureaus of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies decided on Tuesday to send to the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP) the request on presenting the report on the organization and conduct of the presidential elections of November 2024, according to the law in force.The request was formulated by the USR and submitted to the joint permanent bureaus."The Permanent Electoral Authority must present, within a maximum of three months from the end of the elections for the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, for the President of Romania, for the European Parliament and for the local public administration authorities or a national referendum, a report on the organization and conduct of the elections, respectively the referendum, including references to participation in the election, the manner of its conduct, the deviations and shortcomings, including of a legislative nature, found and the result of the consultation. On February 24, 2025, three months after the presidential elections, the deadline provided for by law was exceeded," states the document signed by the leaders of the USR groups in the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, Stefan Palarie and Ionut Mosteanu.The procedures for the dismissal of the head of the Permanent Electoral Authority, Toni Grebla, will begin in the joint permanent bureaus of Parliament, according to a decision taken on Tuesday at the meeting of the governing coalition, political sources said.The joint permanent bureaus of Parliament decided on Tuesday that the request for the dismissal of Grebla from office should be sent to the legal committees of the two chambers for the preparation of the draft decision and the report, so that it can be on the agenda of the joint plenary session on Friday.    Until the presidential election this May, the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP) will function perfectly well with one of the vice-presidents serving in lieu of president Toni Grebla, who is about to be fired, said Social Democrat deputy Mihai Ghigiu.According to him, Toni Grebla's dismissal from the helm of the institution "comes as no surprise"."Exactly as I have told you several times, and as PSD Chairman Ciolacu also said repeatedly, an analysis of Toni Grebla's activity has been made, and the coalition's decision is that parliamentary procedures shall be initiated for Mr. Grebla's dismissal and the appointment of an interim president from among the Electoral Authority's vice-presidents," Ghigiu declared at the Parliament Palace.Asked why is this decision being made only now, the deputy replied: "Mainly because of the faulty management of the institution's activity. There is also a report by the Court of Auditors. So, this is the main reproach. Plus, leaving aside other statements, the way in which it managed the Electoral Authority's activity.""I think that what is important in any functional state is to have a review of the respective institution's activity, of the institution's leaders and initiate the necessary steps only after that. I think that at this moment we have the result of this review," added the Social Democrat.Reminded that AEP's activity had been subject to complaints since the end of last year, both as regards the presidential and the parliamentary elections - complaints filed by opposition parties - and that despite that the PSD Chairman had reiterated support for the AEP president, Ghigiu replied that any institution is targeted by complaints.Regarding the smooth unfolding of the presidential election, the PSD deputy pointed out that "this is precisely why the formula was agreed upon for one of the AEP vice-presidents to take over Toni Grebla's reponsibilities.""It is quite difficult to bring someone from the outside or someone who may have limited experience in organizing elections to fill such an important position. The decision will be made today. Most likely, we will not have a full AEP president until the election, the appointment will probably be made only after the presidential election in May. I think that what really counts is for the institution to function, and not necessarily who leads it. Both vice-presidents are well-seasoned, they haven't been there for just a month, they have experience in the area of elections, (...) I am convinced that any of them will be able to cope with this position," Ghigiu said.