Tiberiu Nitu

A move by the Ministry of Justice to evaluate Romanian Attorney General Augustin Lazar's work has raised fears that the dismissal of anti-graft chief prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi in July was a dangerous precedent that exposes any chief prosecutor to political interference.

Romania this week is to continue the process of nominating a new chief prosecutor and a new head for the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, the DNA, two institutions which are crucial to the success of the country's anti-graft drive.

Romanian Senators have decided with 102 votes in favour and only 30 against to lift the immunity of MP Gabriel Oprea, the former interior minister, so he can face a criminal inquiry over his use of motorcades.

While denying wrongdoing, Oprea himself voted in favour of lifting his own immunity from prosecution.

Romania's top prosecutor Tiberiu Nitu deposited his resignation on Tuesday, with President Klaus Iohannis expected to nominate a successor.

In a statement quoted by Agerpres, Nitu said he was taking the step to "protect the reputation of the prosecutor's office".

Romanian General Prosecutor Tiberiu Nitu resigned on Tuesday, one week after anti-graft investigators said he made illegal use of official motorcades.

President Klaus Iohannis has accepted his resignation and is to make a new nomination.

Attorney General with the Prosecution Service of the Supreme Court of Justice and Cassation Tiberiu Nitu believes setting up a judiciary police department at the Romanian Police made up by specialist judiciary police officers and agents to tackle exclusively criminal investigations in pending court cases is opportune.

Head of the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA) Laura Codruta Kovesi on Thursday requested the notification of the Senate for the remand and pre-trial arrest of Darius Valcov, who tendered his resignation as Minister of Public Finance.

Darius Valcov
Photo credit: (c) Angelo BREZOIANU / AGERPRES ARCHIVE

The High Court of Cassation and Justice confirmed on Monday the decision of General Prosecutor Tiberiu Nitu to reopen the investigation on the June 13-15 1990 miners' riot, involving former President Ion Iliescu.

Photo credit: (c) Sorin LUPSA / AGERPRES ARCHIVE

Justice Minister Robert Cazanciuc on Friday made an appeal to all prosecutors who believe they have the necessary experience, integrity and maturity to register in the selection for the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) head.

Photo credit: (c) Angelo BREZOIANU / AGERPRES PHOTO

Senate Speaker Calin Popescu-Tariceanu said in a release on Saturday that after the vote given by the senators on Varujan Vosganian case, the partnership recently proposed by President Klaus Iohannis to the Parliament 'has turned into blunt criticism of the opinion expressed by a majority of the senators'.

Photo credit: (c) Mihai POZIUMSCHI / AGERPRES PHOTO