Monday, July 23rd

Applications for DNA’s new chief still expected

Applications for the position of Romania’s chief anti-corruption prosecutor must be submitted by Monday. However, nobody applied so far. Justice Minister Tudorel Toader believes that candidates will submit applications eventually. Minister Toader also explained why prosecutors seemed reluctant to apply for the job after Laura Codruţa Kövesi, the former head of the country’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), was sacked on July 9. „I think that prosecutors believe the appointment will be made following an agreement as it happend before, which, I assure you, it is not so”, the minister said. Selection of potential candidates is expected between July 25-27 while the minister will announce his proposal on July 30.

Romanian PM report expected on Monday

Romania’s Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă is expected to present her six month-governing report at the Victoria Palace in the capital Bucharest on Monday. The announcement was made by the cabinet’s press body after Liviu Dragnea, president of the governing Social Democratic Party (PSD), said on Sunday the prime minister’s report would include the best measures adopted so far and their alleged consequences for citizens. Mr Dragnea also pointed out that an alleged cabinet reshuffle was out of the question this summer though he mentioned a future assessment of cabinet’s activity.

New chief for Romania”s DIICOT

Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) has a new chief. Oliver Felix Bănilă became the head of the DIICOT after Romanian President Klaus Iohannis signed a decree confirming the appointment on Monday. The decision comes after several DIICOT prosecutors called on President Iohannis to reject the appointment as it was „inappropiate”. A graduate of Alexandru Ioan Cuza Law University in the Romanian north-eastern town of Iassy, Mr. Bănilă was chief-prosecutor at the Proscutor’s Office of the Court in Bacău, a county in eastern Romania.
Alexandru Danga/adanga