Romania’s President may be removed from the process of naming the country’s general prosecutor, chief anti-corruption prosecutor and chief anti-organized crime prosecutor, according to the new justice law draft justice minister Tudorel Toader presented on Wednesday, August 23.

So far, the President has been the one who appointed Romania’s general prosecutor and the chief prosecutors of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) and the Directorate for Combatting Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT). He would receive proposals from the justice ministers and the Superior Magistracy Council (CSM) would issue an opinion on the nomination.

The draft law on the status of judges and prosecutors provides that the justice minister will continue to make proposals for the chief prosecutor positions but the final decision will be made by the Superior Magistracy Council (CSM).

The President will continue to appoint the president of the High Court of Cassation and Justice.

The draft bill also prolongs the mandates of the chief prosecutors and supreme court president from three to four years. The ongoing mandates are not impacted by this decision.

The law proposals need to be approved by the Government before being sent to the Parliament.

editor@romania-insider.com