President Klaus Iohannis dismissed DNA Chief Prosecutor

President of Romania Klaus Iohannis issued the decree of Laura Codruta Kovesi's revocation as the head of the National Anticorruption Directorate, according to the decision of the Romanian Contitutional Court, the announcement being made by the spokesperson of the head of state Mădălina Dobrovolschi on Monday July 9. 

"The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, has consistently stated that he respects the Constitution and the laws of the country and has acted permanently in this respect. Therefore, in execution of the decision of the Constitutional Court no 358/2018, the President of Romania, Mr. Klaus Iohannis, signed the decree revoking Mrs. Laura Kovesi as chief prosecutor of the National Anticorruption Directorate” said the spokesman of the President of Romania.

Shortly, the revocation decree was published in the Official Gazette.

Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar delegated Anca Jurma to serve as interim Chief Prosecutor of DNA, according to an announcement of the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice.

The Ministry of Justice announced that it was organizing between July 9 and July 30, 2018, the selection of prosecutors for the vacant position as chief prosecutor of the National Anticorruption Directorate.

The European Commission announced, following President Klaus Iohannis's decision to revoke Laura Codruta Kovesi, that if the results of the fight against corruption were questioned, the Commission might have to reassess this conclusion.

"We do not comment on the judgments of the national courts or their implementation. As you know, I have repeatedly stressed that the independence of the Romanian judiciary and its ability to fight corruption effectively are of the utmost importance, which is the essence of the Commission's MCV reports. The Commission has been clear in successive MCV reports that the ability of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate to maintain its track record in challenging circumstances has been an important sign of sustainability. If these results in the fight against corruption questioned the Commission might have to to reassess this conclusion, "said a spokesman for the European Commission.