The ombudsman requested the Commission for Exceptional Situations to exclude the provisions by which the period for responding to requests for information of public interest during the state of emergency is extended three times, IPN reports, quoting a press release of the ombudsman.

In a letter to the Commission’s chairman, Prime Minister Ion Chicu, the ombudsman says that the person’s right to have access to any information of public interest cannot be limited. In its judgment on the interpretation of Article 34, par. (3) of the Constitution, the Constitutional Court notes that the right to information is a precondition for the exercise of other rights, namely political, economic and social rights, the right to private life, the right to take part in the conduct of public affairs, the right to a fair trial.

The ombudsman says the UN experts on freedom of opinion and expression recommended the governments to promote and protect the access and free flow of information during the pandemic. International experts call on the governments to apply the laws on the freedom of information so as to make sure that all the persons, in particular the journalists, have access to information.

The Commission for Exceptional Situations’ ordinance of March 18 says the legal periods for dealing with requests for information of public interest and with petitions are extended three times for the duration of the state of emergency, from 15 workdays to 45 workdays.