President Klaus Iohannis has rejected a call by the justice minister to sack DNA Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi
The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has announced on Monday evening that he would not sack Laura Codruta Kovesi as head of the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA), after the request to do so by the Justice Minister Todorel Toader. In a statement at Cotroceni Palace, the president explained that both the negative advice given by the Superior Council of Magistracy to the Justice Minister and the arguments brought forward by the latter have made him decide that the chief DNA prosecutor should keep her position. „Some of the reasons that justify the sacking proposal are based on information that are either inadequate or outdated as far as the assessment period is concerned”, Mr. Iohannis has said. In a Facebook post, after the president’s announcement, the justice minister has said that he would take the refusal to the Constitutional Court, arguing that the president does not have the legal capacity or the attributions to evaluate the professional and managerial activity of the DNA chief prosecutor. According to Romanian law, the dismissal of chief prosecutors is made by the president of the state, at the suggestion of the justice minister.
Romania as strongly condemned the use of chemical weapons in any circumstances
Foreign minister from European Union member states, meeting in Brussels, have expressed their support for all measures designed to hamper any new chemical attacks against civilians in Syria and have called for the restart of the political process to end the conflict. The Romanian Foreign Minister Theodor Melescanu, who attended the meeting, has underlined that Romania categorically condemns the use of chemical weapons in any circumstances, especially against civilians. Speaking about the prolonged crisis in Syria, Mr. Melescanu has warned about the danger of a military escalation that would have serious consequences for the whole region and has called for all the parties involved to support the United Nations’ moves to find a political solution. As far as sanctions against Russia are concerned, European foreign ministers have expressed their general support to maintain the economic sanctions, for as long as the breaches of international law continue, Radio Romania informs.
Former President Ion Iliescu is formally prosecuted in the „Revolution” file
The former Romanian President Ion Iliescu has been called at the General Prosecutor’s Office in Tuesday, where he was informed that he is prosecuted in the „Revolution” file, for committing crimes against humanity. Military prosecutors have also extended the prosecution for the period between 27th and 31st of December, 1989, which does not need an advice for the investigation. Military prosecutors have said that the advice of the Romanian President was necessary for facts committed by Ion Iliescu between 22nd and 27th of December, 1989, because CFSN acted as a genuine government, and its members were considered ministers. They also note that Ion Iliescu, as CFSN President, accepted and formalized measures of a military nature, and some of them were obviously diversionary. A prosecution for crimes against humanity was also launched for former military officials Iosif Rus and Cico Dumitrescu.
Mădălina Brotăcel, RADOR
