Former judge Mona Pivniceru becomes Romania's new Justice Minister

Former Romanian judge Mona Pivniceru was sworn in Justice Minister in Romania on Thursday (August 23 ), after her candidacy was contested and her naming delayed after media allegations of connections to former prime minister Adrian Nastase, now imprisoned.

Pivniceru, a former member of the Supreme Magistrates Court (CSM) and a judge of the High Court of Cassation and Justice, had to resign her positions to become the country's Justice Minister. Romania's general prosecutor Codruta Kovesi said she has high expectations from the new Justice Minister, including independence for prosecutors and keeping the statute of magistrates. “I have the same high expectations I had from all Justice Ministers so far,” said Kovesi. Pivniceru, 54, will replace Titus Corlatean, who became the Foreign Affairs Minister. The Justice portfolio was covered by Prime Minister Victor Ponta as interim from the beginning of August. editor@romania-insider.com