Romanian President Klaus Iohannis appointed on Thursday  Augustin Lazar as the country's new General Prosecutor.

The Ministry of Justice sent its proposal to the President last Friday after the Superior Council of Magistracy (CMS) approved Lazar’s appointment.

Augustin Lazar, 58, has been working as a prosecutor for more than 30 years. He will be the General Prosecutor of Romania for the next three years, with the possibility to be re-appointed for one more term.

The General Prosecutor coordinates the activity of all the prosecution offices in Romania, including the National Anticorruption Directorate – DNA and the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Terrorism – DIICOT.

Tiberiu Nitu resigned from the position of General Prosecutor of Romania in early February after the DNA started investigating him in an abuse of office case focused on former interior minister Gabriel Oprea. Bogdan Licu, the General Prosecutor’s First Deputy, replaced him as interim General Prosecutor.

Romania’s former General Prosecutor investigated for complicity to abuse of office.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com