Romanian ruling lawmakers push bill to cancel wiretap evidence

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Lawmakers in Romania approved a bill on Wednesday that would cancel wiretap evidence used to prosecute past corruption cases and could wipe out hundreds of convictions, including that of the head of the ruling Social Democrats.

The lower house vote, pushed through by the Social Democrats and their coalition partner, seemed certain to increase concern within the European Union whose executive on Tuesday criticised moves in Romania to weaken the independence of the judiciary and democracy.