Critic Claims Romania Trying to Rig New Anti-Corruption Chief Pick

The process to replace an anti-corruption chief fired after hunting politicians is being fixed so that Romania’s Justice Minister can clear the way for a hand-picked government candidate, said Bianca Toma, a researcher at the Romania Center for European Policies.

Toma, a former journalist, said four candidates who applied to replace Laura Kovesi, a hardliner against corruption, were quickly rejected as part of a delaying tactic to clear opposition for a government candidate not yet identified, Euronews reported.

The Ministry of Justice is beginning another round of applications as a new law that kicks in later this year would also reduce the powers of President Klaus Iohannis, who backed Kovesi for targeting politicians.

“One of the goals of the justice minister (Tudorel Toader) is to postpone as much as he can in order to have the President out of the procedure. Having the President out (of the way) means the appointment will become more politicized, which is a problem definitely,” said Toma.

Toader called for Kovesi’s resignation because “she had exceeded her authority,” with critics saying it was because she was going after politicians in one of the most corrupt countries in the European Union, which has done almost nothing to stop it.

Kovesi targeted Members of Parliament, ministers, mayors and other government officials and uncovered conflicts of interest, abuse of power, fraud and awarding of state contracts in exchange for bribes.

Her office’s work brought the conviction of  Romania’s most powerful politician, PSD leader Liviu Dragnea, for corruption and money laundering. But after a demand from Toader, Kovesi was fired despite support from Iohannis who, acing under the threat of suspension from his party, complied with a ruling from the country’s highest court she be fired.

The Parliament then voted to legalize some corruption offenses in what was seen as an open attempt to get Dragnea off the hook. “These are the worst times for the anti-corruption fight in Romania and it’s the end of it as we know it,” added Toma.

Kovesi, whose office investigated 60 top-ranking officials was booted over misconduct charges critics said were a smokescreen to hide government resistance to fight bribery and graft and insulate politicians from prosecution.

She said the charges, including incompetence, falsifying evidence and harming the country’s image by talking to foreign journalists, were trumped up by a government trying to protect itself and friends from being probed for wrongdoing.