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Same-sex marriage is illegal in Romania and a referendum on the issue this weekend will not provide citizens with the opportunity to reverse this ban. Instead, he will wonder if this should be written into the country's constitution.
The vote of two days may pass, given the conservative population of the country, mainly Romanian Orthodox. But many observers say the real purpose of the poll is to strengthen support for the government led by the Social Democrats, diverting public attention from widespread corruption and measures to decriminalize corruption, in favor of issues related to traditional values, where the government is stronger. .
"They need some kind of legitimation here and now, so they have presented people with something that is hard to dismiss, that takes into account tradition, values and religion," said Cristian Diaconescu, former social-democratic minister or PSD, who broke with his party.
The Social Democrats "have decided to put pressure in this direction because they are stuck," said Laura Stefan, a rule of law analyst at the Bucharest-based Expert Forum.
Social Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea could not be named prime minister because of two corruption convictions – the first in 2015 for electoral fraud in a referendum. An appeal from Mr. Dragnea against the second conviction should begin Monday.
Attempts to decriminalize corruption in the last year and the dismissal of the country's first anti-corruption prosecutor in July have led to the biggest street protests since the fall of communism, as well as increased surveillance by Brussels.
Frans Timmermans, first vice-president of the European Commission, said this week that the progress made in the ten years since Romania's accession to the EU could be reversed. The concern is growing as Romania assume the rotating presidency of the EU for the first half of next year. He will supervise Article 7 disciplinary proceedings against Hungary and Poland, countries whose trajectory has given rise to similar concerns with respect to legality in Brussels.
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The referendum on same-sex marriage is organized after the modification of the laws and procedures governing this type of voting, in particular by lowering the threshold of participation from 50 to 30% and by removing the provisions relating to the electronic and video monitoring of the polling stations.
Daniel Brett, of University College London, said the changes could serve as a "Trojan Horse" for a future plebiscite government, including a threat of dismissal of President Klaus Iohannis from the rival national Liberal Party.
Serban Nicolae, a PSD senator, rejected the accusations that the referendum was political, saying it was "not launched by political actors", but by a citizens' initiative, which collected 3 million signatures in 2015. His party passed it to Parliament, where it was passed. to the upper house in September with a vote of 107-13.
Marriage laws are a matter of national sovereignty, said Nicolae.
In a debate on Romania's judicial system in Strasbourg on Wednesday, Timmermans acknowledged that marriage is a matter for the exclusive competence of the member states, but warned against the message the vote would send.
"The European Commission has no power in this area," he said. "This problem should not be used to feed some of our darkest demons: hatred against sexual minorities, the attempt to bring women into the same situation as they were centuries ago. "
Dozens of members of the European Parliament wrote to Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila to voice their opposition to the referendum, saying the government could be considered "complicit in ongoing human rights abuses." . . those who belong to "non-traditional" families.
But standing in front of Brussels can help maintain the popularity of the Social Democrats with a frustrated electorate that considers that EU member states in the East must meet two standards.
"I do not think we should be monkeys for everyone, to move us," said an 80-year-old man who gave his name to Dragomir while he was buying vegetables at Piata Norilor's green market .
"They think we have to do what other countries do, who live in other cultures with other traditions, and they try to impose their values on us," he said.
Diacon Ionut Mavrichi, spokesman of the Romanian Orthodox Church, said that Brussels did not have a monopoly on European values. "If we want Europe to be united, we need several voices to be heard. The Conservatives' voices are as legitimate as those of the progressives, "he said.
Mr Brett said that after years of massive street protests, a "tiredness of indignation" was starting and that a disagreement on the issue of gay marriage was being intelligently implemented by the PSD's. Mr. Dragnea to sow division among the opposition.
Ms. Stefan, from the Forum of Experts, said the plebiscite and the ensuing battle with Brussels could have lasting consequences far beyond the legal definition of marriage. "We can no longer take for granted the pro-European environment" in Romania, she said.
