Romanian Officials Clash over Anti-Graft Legislation

Romanian senators are to discuss a bill on Wednesday that would forbid the president from naming the chief prosecutors at the country's anti-graft watchdogs - a move which has caused new tensions between the ruling Social Democratic Party-Alliance of Liberals and Democrats coalition and President Klaus Iohannis.

The bill, submitted by the head of the senate, Alliance of Liberals and Democrats chief Calin Popescu Tariceanu, was tacitly adopted by the Romanian parliament's lower chamber, and was meant to be discussed on Tuesday by the senate's justice committee.

But the debate was postponed because Tariceanu could not attend the meeting.  

He was at the Supreme Court where he is tried for perjury and aiding and abetting the perpetrator in a graft a case involving the illegal return of property to Prince Paul of Romania.

Tariceanu submitted the bill after his indictment last year, and told the BBC in February that he believes justice is not independent in Romania and that the anti-graft prosecutors from the National Anticorruption Directorate, DNA, have abused their office.

"The DNA and the intelligence services are now perceived as institutions which are not respecting the legal framework, are corrupt themselves, and are used as important leverage in the political fight in Romania," he said.

It is one of the latest skirmishes between the ruling PSD-ALDE coalition and the centre-right Liberal president, who has been opposing any legislation meant to curb the fight against corruption.

Traicenau's bill aims to restrict the powers of the president.

It suggests that the chief prosecutors of anti-graft watchdog DNA and the organized crime body DIICOT, as well as the Attorney General, should be assigned by the Higher...

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