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COREPER Council votes Romanian Kovesi for top EU prosecutor
On Thursday, at the meeting of the Committee of the Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States to the European Union (COREPER), held in Brussels, Laura Codruta Kovesi obtained support for the position of Chief Prosecutor of the European Public Prosecutor's Office. Sources in Brussels confirmed that 17 of the 22 ambassadors of the states that have so far joined the EPPO initiative voted in favor of Kovesi's candidacy.
Former head of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) Laura Codruta Kovesi Thursday talked about the assault on the justice system, carried out not only through comments in the public space, but also through repeated attempts to change the legislation and stressed the importance for Justice to continue to resist and do its job in a professional way.
"The justice system has been subjected to an assault, not only through comments in the public space, but also through repeated attempts to change the laws, by the introduction of amendments in the legislation or attempts to amend the Codes and I think it is very important for Justice to continue to resist, to do its job in a professional manner and at least our job, as prosecutors, is to conduct investigations, to have them judged by the courts, and whatever happens in the public space and the political statements - I do not think it is my place, nor do I wish to comment on them," Kovesi told private broadcaster Digi 24.
She spoke about the vote granted on Thursday by the ambassadors of the member states of the European Union for her to take up the position of European chief prosecutor, pointing out that this must be a sign that, "despite all obstacles, professionalism and consistency are eventually the only ones that are important when you want to succeed.''
"I hope that this vote will change a little the situation in the justice system and my colleagues will be more mobilized and determined and will feel encouraged to continue what was started and we cannot deny that, in recent years, in Romania, at least while I led the DNA, the results were clear and the statistics spoke for themselves," Kovesi said.
President Klaus Iohannis stated that the vote in the COREPER regarding the candidacy of Laura Codruta Kovesi for the position of European head prosecutor represents an important victory for Romania, showing that the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Government tried to block this candidacy.
"I hail the vote granted today in the meeting of the Comittee of Permanent Representatives of the governments of the member states in the European Union (COREPER), through which wide support was expressed in favor of the candidacy of Laura Codruta Kovesi for the position of head prosecutor of the European Prosecutor's Office. I am glad that the vote granted by the member states of the European Union was a substantial one, fact that confirms the appreciation for the training, experience and competence of Ms. Kovesi. The result today represents an important victory for Romania, even more so because it was obtained despite the fact that the PSD government permanently tried to block the candidacy of a professional, recognized for her fight against corruption and in defending the rule of law," said Iohannis, in a press statement referring to the vote received by Kovesi in the COREPER meeting.
He emphasizes that, as he acted in this case, he will continue to support "Romanians with integrity, competence and good professionals for leadership positions at the level of European Union institutions."
În turn, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila declared that "Romania's image would suffer" if the accusations brought to Laura Codruta Kovesi were true and specified that the vote given by Romania's representative to the EU at the COREPER meeting was one "against".
"It was the opinion of other Member States, I repeat, my point of view, that the law must be respected, we must all be equal before the law and that it is important to clear all the accusations hanging over one's head before filling a position. I wonder, should Mrs. Codruta Kovesi become the Prosecutor General and if some of these statements are true, I wish they weren't, but if these accusations are true, then who will stand to suffer? I do not want to refer to the person, but surely Romania's image would suffer," Viorica Dancila told on Thursday on Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Asked how Romania's representative voted to the EU (e.n. - Ambassador Luminita Odobescu), the prime minister emphasized: "As I said, against".
But Romanian news channel Digi 24 reported on Thursday that the Romanian representative, Luminita Odobescu, appeared to have voted in favor of Kovesi. That alleged vote came in the wake of a reported request by President Klaus Iohannis, against the will of the PM who had said Odobescu would vote against a term for Kovesi as top European prosecutor.