Laura Codruţa Kövesi

Romania's Justice Minister, Tudorel Toader, on Thursday named Adina Florea, a prosecutor from the Appeal Courts in Constanta, to replace Laura Codruta Kovesi as head of the country's powerful National Anti-Corruption Directorate, DNA.

Prosecutor with the Prosecutor's Office attached to the Constanta Courthouse and currently delegated to the Prosecutor's Office attached to the Constanta Court of Appeals Adina Florea will be proposed by Justice Minister Tudorel Toader for the prosecutor-in-chief office of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), the Justice Ministry (MJ) informs.

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 has recalled its ambassador to the US, George Maior, after he told the media on Monday that a letter sent by former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, criticising the country's anti-corruption drive, was the result of lobbying efforts by "individuals who have justice problems".

Romania's Justice Ministry is to renew a call to replace the country's former anti-corruption chief prosecutor, Laura Codruta Kovesi, who was fired on July 9.

Justice Minister Tudorel Toader on Friday announced that he had rejected all four candidates who had applied for the post.

The Ministry of Justice announced on Friday having rejected all four bids for the position of chief prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA), and having decided to restart the selection procedure.

The Liberals are requesting the Minister of Justice to send to the Superior Council of Magistrates (CSM) the candidacies that fulfill the legal conditions for the position of chief prosecutor of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) and to allow CSM to make the decision concerning the nomination in this case, said on Thursday, National Liberal Party (PNL) Chairman Ludovic Orban.

The National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) will still have to remain a strong, independent and relevant body, according to Anca Jurma, who took over the office of DNA chief prosecutor on Thursday, after on Monday President Klaus Iohannis signed a decree removing Laura Codruta Kovesi from same office.

Former head of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) Laura Codruta Kovesi was appointed on Wednesday by Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar to serve as delegated prosecutor with the Supervision and Control Service of the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice.

Fired Chief Prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) Laura-Codruta Kovesi had a crucial role in the progress made by Romania with the rule of law and the fight against corruption, and France attributes great importance to the irreversibility of those reforms, the spokesman for the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs says.