President defends anti-graft body after abuse allegations

pulse

February 15, 2018 10:46 PM

Romanias centre-right President Klaus Iohannis defended on Thursday the countrys anti-corruption body and its head Laura Codruta Kovesi, who is facing dismissal calls from the left-wing majority over alleged "abuses".

"The DNA (anti-graft organisation) and its management are doing a good job and the attack on them by people in conflict with the law only confirms it," Iohannis said at a press conference.

He said he would soon be meeting with justice minister Tudorel Toader, who is under pressure from the left to fire Kovesi.

"I do not see any reason at this time to remove the head of the DNA of her duties and it would surprise me that Mr. Toader has arguments to convince me otherwise," he said.

Toader, who was recalled urgently to Bucharest by the country's new prime minister Viorica Dancila to decide on Kovesi's fate, has postponed any decision until next week.

Under the law, it is up to the justice minister to ask for the dismissal of heads of the prosecution but it is the head of state who has the final say.

Several leaders of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) have in recent weeks called for Kovesi's resignation, accusing the DNA of "manufacturing evidence" and open "targeted" investigations against its members.

PSD leader Liviu Dragnea, sentenced to two years in prison suspended for electoral fraud, is charged in two other cases, including one on the misappropriation of European funds.

Kovesi on Wednesday dismissed the charges against her, claiming to have "always respected the law".

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