Lawmakers in one of the most-corrupt countries in Europe approved changes to the criminal code that will likely shut down some high profile and important graft cases involving government officials.

The moves by MPs in Romania are seen as threats to judicial independence and have drawn criticism from the European Union, the US State Department, and thousands of Romanian magistrates.

The changes include shortening the statue of limitations on certain corruption offenses; lowering sentences for some offenses; and decriminalizing negligence in the workplace.  These are the latest in a series of changes passed by the governing Social Democratic Party of Romania (PSD) since coming into power in 2017.  Some of them were struck down in the courts last year.

"The criminals are making their own laws," said opposition leader Dan Barna of the Save Romania Union; he also accused PSD leader Liviu Dragnea of creating the changes the bill to "solve his own personal problems with (the justice system)." 

Prosecutors have secured a number of convictions against PSD figures including Mr. Dragnea, who has a suspended jail term in a vote-rigging case and an ongoing appeal against a second conviction for inciting others to commit abuse of office.