The Romanian government is expected to adopt an emergency ordinance on Wednesday to change criminal law in a serious way, governmental sources have told HotNews.ro. The exact scope of the changes is not clearly known, but they are expected to target key legal means used in the fight against high level corruption that has taken Romania by storm for several years. President Iohannis, whom many have seen as the most important remaining opposition figure to the current government, made a mooted intervention on the issue on Tuesday.

The changes would come as a new government, dominated by the Social Democrats (PSD), came into office earlier this month, after the PSD reported a strong win in general elections last year.

And they come as top level politicians led by PSD-connected people indicted for various acts of corruption – including PSD leader Liviu Dragnea, currently the speaker of the House of Deputies – have been challenging reforms and actions against graft that have been pursued in the past year.

According to HotNews.ro sources, the changes due to be adopted on Wednesday include measures that would „mask” an official pardon for people charged or sentenced for a series of criminal acts. Also targeted are said to be legal provisions regarding the abuse in office, neglect, conflict of interests and denouncers’ protection.

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On Wednesday, the President, Klaus Iohannis, has overseen the government meeting [RO] and pushed for the daily agenda to be made public.