The Romanian Ministry of Justice said it was seeking a replacement for chief anti-graft prosecutor Laura Coduta Kovesi – who was fired on Monday – amid strong fears on political interference.
President Klaus Iohannis’ move raised concern over the future of the anti-corruption agency, DNA, from opposition and foreign diplomats, while anti-corruption activists sent messages to the President’s social media accounts criticizing his decision.Romania’s government is set to nominate a new anti-graft chief prosecutor by the end of July, after the country’s President announced early on Monday that he was dismissing anti-chief corruption prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi following a ruling of the Constitutional Court.
Kovesi, who had become a symbol of the fight against corruption in Romania, served as head of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate for over five years, since 2013, the first chief prosecutor to obtain a second mandate. Previously, she was the country’s youngest Attorney General and finished two mandates.
“Corruption can be defeated! Do not give up,” she said defiantly on Monday, before she left the headquarters of the DNA after a short conference.
Her dismissal came after months of political bickering between the ruling Social Democrats and their allies – who accused Kovesi of fabricating cases against prominent politicians – and opposition parties, President Iohannis and members of civil society groups and anti-corruption activists, who supported her fight against corruption.
Activists have protested in Bucharest in her support on many occasions since January 2017.
The Minister of Justice, Tudorel Toader, asked the President in February to fire Kovesi over accusations that she had influenced cases against prominent politicians and had failed to discipline prosecutors who did not follow procedures.
The Constitutional Court ruled on May 30 that the President, who had refused to comply with the dismissal request, was obliged to sign the decree and fire the chief prosecutor.
Iohannis’ announcement came five weeks after ruling coalition leaders said they were ready to suspend him if he did not comply.
“The President did what he was obliged to do. A court ruling needs to be respected,” former Constitutional Court chief Augustin Zegrean told news channel Digi 24 on Monday.
However, hundreds of supporters of the former chief prosecutor accused Iohannis of not standing up to the ruling party. “You have disappointed us,” several users posted on Iohannis’ official Facebook page.
Ruling party leader Liviu Dragnea told journalists on Monday that the Social Democrats were still considering suspending Iohannis.
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