European Parliament clears way for prosecution of Romanian extremist MEP Diana Șoșoacă

European Parliament voted on 28 April by a large majority to waive the parliamentary immunity of Romanian MEP Diana Iovanovici Șoșoacă, leader of the far-right SOS Romania party.

The decision paves the way for Romanian judicial authorities to advance a criminal investigation against her on multiple charges, including unlawful deprivation of liberty and the promotion of fascist, legionary, racist, and xenophobic ideas, as well as anti-Semitic statements.

The process began in September 2025 when Romania’s Prosecutor General’s Office formally requested the lifting of her immunity to continue criminal proceedings initiated earlier that year. The request encompassed around 11 alleged offenses committed between late 2021 and early 2025. Following standard procedure, the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) examined the case in a closed-door session on 23 April. The committee approved the waiver with 17 votes in favor, none against, and one abstention. The plenary confirmed this recommendation the following week.

In line with the JURI report, MEPs held a split vote. They agreed to lift immunity for several key allegations listed in the prosecutor’s request, specifically acts involving unlawful deprivation of liberty, public glorification of persons convicted of genocide or war crimes, dissemination of fascist and legionary (Romanian fascist) ideologies, and the promotion of anti-Semitic ideas. However, they chose not to waive immunity in relation to one charge concerning the denial, contestation, or minimisation of the Holocaust, which was linked to a statement made during a plenary session in the European Parliament itself. This nuanced approach reflects the Parliament’s careful balancing of national judicial needs against the protection of free speech within its own proceedings.

Șoșoacă, a polarizing figure known for her nationalist, anti-EU, and occasionally pro-Russian rhetoric, has vehemently denied the accusations. She has described the entire case as a politically motivated “attempted public execution” aimed at silencing her. Upon leaving the Strasbourg plenary on 28 April, she announced her intention to appeal the decision and criticized what she sees as an unprecedented wave of immunity lifts in the current legislature – around 50 cases in less than two years, compared to a similar number over five years in the previous term. According to her, many recent waivers targeted expressions of opinion on social media or in national parliaments, eroding fundamental rights and freedoms.

The underlying case against Șoșoacă draws from several complaints. One stems from an incident in December 2021 in Bucharest, where she and others are accused of briefly depriving a group of Italian journalists and another individual of their liberty. Other elements involve public statements and actions that prosecutors say glorify figures associated with the historical Legionary movement or individuals convicted of serious crimes under Romanian law. Additional probes include a 2024 homage to Legionary leader Corneliu Zelea Codreanu and complaints related to laudatory references to Nicolae Ceaușescu’s regime. Romanian authorities have also examined her broader pattern of public interventions, which often feature extremist tones.

Șoșoacă rose to prominence through her outspoken opposition to COVID-19 measures, vocal criticism of the European Union, and theatrical protests inside the European Parliament. In one memorable episode, she disrupted proceedings by brandishing an Orthodox icon and garbage bags while claiming to “exorcise demons,” later donning a dog muzzle in a dramatic gesture against perceived censorship. Her party, SOS Romania, secured approximately 7% of the vote in the December parliamentary elections, earning 24 seats. She has also drawn international attention for anti-Ukrainian statements, including threats directed at President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Lifting parliamentary immunity does not equate to a conviction or even an indictment – it simply removes the legal shield that prevents national authorities from investigating or prosecuting a sitting MEP for acts unrelated to their European duties. Romanian prosecutors can now proceed with evidence collection, witness interviews, and potentially refer the case to court if they deem the file sufficiently strong. Șoșoacă retains her seat in the European Parliament, as the waiver affects only her protection from domestic proceedings.

This case highlights ongoing tensions within the EU between protecting freedom of expression for elected representatives and confronting speech that crosses into incitement or glorification of historical extremism. Romania’s legal framework, including Emergency government ordinance, strictly prohibits the promotion of fascist, legionary, racist, or xenophobic ideologies, as well as the public cult of individuals convicted of crimes against humanity. Supporters of Șoșoacă view the prosecution as selective political persecution in a polarized domestic landscape, while critics argue that elected officials must be held accountable when their rhetoric undermines democratic values and historical memory.

The episode also underscores the European Parliament’s evolving approach to immunity waivers. While traditionally cautious, the institution has shown greater willingness in recent years to facilitate national investigations, particularly when serious criminal allegations are involved.

Article in Romanian in our partner media PressOne can be found here.

Caption: Diana Diana Șoșoacă (C), a Romanian far-right politician, member of the European Parliament (MEP), and banned presidential candidate, waves the Romanian Constitution book to surrounding supporters after a hearing at the General Prosecutor’s Office in Bucharest, Romania, 30 March 2026. Sosoaca, the leader of the ultra-nationalist party SOS, was summoned regarding allegations of promoting legionnaire ideology and met by dozens of supporters who came to show their support. According to Sosoaca, the prosecutors want her to undergo a psychiatric examination, but they need her consent to initiate the procedure. The Romanian Constitutional Court has denied her the right to run in the 2024 presidential elections. EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT