Romanian court blocks “happy news” legislation

Romania’s constitutional watchdog ‘today ruled against draft legislation that would require radio and television stations to air more “happy” news saying that it breaches the constitution. The bill, initiated by a deputy from the ruling Liberal Party and a member of the opposition far-right Greater Romania Party, was approved unanimously by the senate in June but was challenged by the Democrat-Liberal opposition party.

“The Constitutional Court decided the bill was unconstitutional as a whole, thus cannot be signed into law by the country’s president,” Acsinte Gaspar one of the court’s judges told Reuters. According to Romania’s law, the court will offer within 10 days a detailed explanation on why it considers the bills unconstitutional. If a bill is declared unconstitutional, the parliament will have to drop it or try to amend it.

Romania, which joined the European Union last year, is struggling with widespread poverty and corruption. Under the bill, broadcasters would have given equal time to “positive” and “negative” issues in their newscasts. Its sponsors argued too much gloom is making people ill.

OSCE, Europe’s leading human rights watchdog urged Romania’s president yesterday to veto the legislation saying that defining good versus bad news is a severe political intrusion into editorial freedom. Media watch groups and the state broadcast regulator CNA have also urged President Traian Basescu to veto it.

(Source: Reuters)