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Southeast Europe
July 13, 2018 www.intellinews.com I Page 15
Romanian president dismisses head of anti-corruption body
Carmen Simion in Bucharest
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has finally signed the decree dismissing the head of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), Laura Codruta Kovesi, as requested by the Constitu- tional Court at the end of May, the presidency’s spokesperson announced on July 9.
The decision is expected to alleviate tensions on the Romanian political scene, as the ruling coalition is now likely to drop its plans to suspend the presi- dent. However, Romania’s determination to fight high-level corruption will depend on the next man- agement of the DNA and its political independence.
The removal of Kovesi, the iconic figurehead of Romania’s fight against corruption, represents another step in the ruling coalition’s overhaul of the justice system and criminal legislation in Ro- mania that some critics say is intended to protect leading politicians from justice. Recently adopted changes to criminal legislation have been harshly criticised for weakening the anti-corruption fight in the country, by Romanian magistrates, the EC and the country’s international partners in addi- tion to many Romanians.
The president’s decision came amid discussions within the ruling coalition over the possibility of suspending him for not respecting the Constitu- tional Court ruling. The decision is likely to ease tensions between the president and the ruling coalition, at least for the moment, as the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (Alde) do not have any other tangi- ble reason to try to impeach him.
However, tensions are likely to continue over the adoption of the changes to criminal legislation,
as the president has already announced he will challenge them at the Constitutional Court. The PSD leader Liviu Dragnea is one of the beneficiar- ies of the bill amending the criminal code, which would help him avoid a prison sentence issued in a recent court ruling.
“The president of Romania, Mr. Klaus Iohannis, considers that Romania cannot take steps back- wards from the status of country where the law rules and the supremacy of the Constitution is respected. In Romania, the fight against corrup- tion should not be diminished or blocked in any way,” the presidency’s spokeswoman, Madalina Dobrovolschi, said.
“In a state governed by the rule of law, all the decisions of the Constitutional Court should be respected,” the presidency said, adding that the new head of the DNA will have the obligation to do his/her job professionally.”
In response, Kovesi said she will leave the DNA and will remain a prosecutor, noting that the revo- cation leaves “a big question mark on whether there will be a discretionary subordination of chief prosecutors to the justice minister”.
“It is common sense to see that the political will is to block investigations, to block justice,” Kovesi said.
The government led by the PSD has long been seeking to remove Kovesi, under whose leader-