The European Parliament voted by an overwhelming majority to lift the parliamentary immunity of Romanian MEP Diana Iovanovici Șoșoacă.
The decision was made following an official request from Romanian authorities. In Romania, the politician faces charges related to 11 criminal offences, including Holocaust denial, dissemination of antisemitic ideas, promotion of a cult of personality around individuals convicted of war crimes and genocide, as well as other incidents involving extremist propaganda and acts of violence (including the detention of a journalist).
The European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) examined the request on 23 April and recommended lifting the immunity almost unanimously — 17 votes in favour, with one abstention. The decision was subsequently confirmed by a large majority at a plenary session.
The lifting of immunity allows Romanian prosecutors to proceed with the criminal investigation and, if sufficient grounds exist, to bring formal charges against Șoșoacă. Her mandate as a Member of the European Parliament remains unaffected.
Diana Șoșoacă — leader of the ultranationalist party SOS Romania — is well known for her inflammatory statements, including sharp criticism of Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky personally, as well as her pro-Russian positions. She has previously attracted considerable media and law enforcement attention on multiple occasions due to her radical remarks.
Romania’s General Prosecutor’s Office is now able to pursue the cases against her in full, without the shield of parliamentary protection.