Romania Minister Seeks Anti-Graft Chief's Dismissal

Romania's Justice Minister, Tudorel Toader, on Thursday, said he had started the procedure to dismiss the country's anti-graft chief prosecutor, Laura Codruta Kovesi, for alleged mismanagement of the National Anticorruption Directorate, DNA.

In an 80-minute press conference, he presented the media with an exhaustive report and condemned Kovesi's management. He refused to answer any questions from the press.

The report will be sent to the Higher Magistrates' Council and to President Klaus Iohannis. By law, only the President has the authority to dismiss the chief anti-graft prosecutor.

Moreover, Iohannis said last week that he was satisfied with the work of the DNA prosecutors and saw no reason to dismiss Kovesi.

In a press conference at the DNA, on February 14, Kovesi said she was not going to resign and added that the attacks on her and her fellow anti-corruption prosecutors only proved that they were doing their jobs well.  

She recalled that 70 officials had been prosecuted in the past four years, including two prime ministers and various MPs.

Kovesi took office in 2013. Previously, from 2006-2012, she served as Attorney General.

Kovesi and the directorate came under fire last week after a former Social Democrat MP who had been sentenced for graft accused one prosecutor of witness intimidation and of forging evidence.

Several Social Democratic politicians have called for Kovesi's resignation on the grounds of mismanagement, with some claiming the DNA, should be dissolved.

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila also asked Justice Minister Toader to cut short an official visit to Japan and return to Bucharest to deal with the row.