DNA and DIICOT make interim appointments

April 2013 - From the Print Edition

Controversy around the appointments in the justice system continues, as interim candidates for the offices of Chief Prosecutor of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) and the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) have been appointed and Daniel Morar's mandate as Chief Prosecutor at the High Court of Cassation and Justice has been extended, but no final candidates for the Office of Chief Prosecutor of the High Court of Cassation and Justice and the DNA have been selected. Morar's mandate was due to come to an end on April 2, but it has been extended by another six months. Calin Nistor has been made Chief Prosecutor of the DNA, replacing Laura Oprean, who was instead appointed Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the DNA for the next six months, according to a press release from the Public Ministry. Meanwhile, Codru Olaru has been appointed Chief Prosecutor of DIICOT, over a period of six months, as of the end of March.
Other interim assignments include the appointment of Gabriela Scutea as Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the High Court of Cassation and Justice, for the next six months, according to the Public Ministry. These appointments come at a time when the Minister of Justice, the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) and the president must choose again the two Chief Prosecutors of the High Court of Cassation and Justice and the DNA, after President Traian Basescu rejected proposals for the appointment of Tiberiu-Mihail Niţu and Ioan Irimie as Chief Prosecutors on January 18.