Romanian PM's proposals for chief prosecutors, head of anti-corruption agency criticized by coalition partners

Rumblings of disagreement are again coming from within Romania's ruling coalition the Social Liberal Union USL, whose co-head Crin Antonescu said his party does not agree with the nomination of Laura Codruta Kovesi as head of the National Anti-Corruption Agency. The proposal was officially made by Prime Minister Victor Ponta, co-head of the USL, and leader of the Social democrat Party (PSD).

Crin Antonescu, the leader of the National Liberal Party said it was for the first time since USL was created that the PM, also acting as Interim Justice Minister, did not consult the PNL, choosing instead to notify the party of the decision after it was made. However, despite the difference in opinion, the USL will not break up, said Antonescu. He added that the PNL is fundamentally against the nomination, as Kovesi was for six years the chief prosecutor during the mandate of incumbent president Traian Basescu. On Wednesday morning (April 3 ), Ponta sent the proposals for DNA chief and chief prosecutor of the High Court of Cassation and Justice to the Supreme Court of Magistrates (CSM). Tiberiu Niţu was the PM's proposal for chief prosecutor. A few others were on the proposal lists: Bogdan Licu was his proposal for deputy chief prosecutor, Alina Bica as chief prosecutor at the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism - DIICOT – and Elena Hosu as deputy chief prosecutor at DIICOT. Before sending in his proposals, Ponta met the members of the CSM and together agreed on the selection process (in picture). Amidst criticism from his coalition partners, Victor Ponta received congratulations from the honorary president of PSD and former president Ion Iliescu, who said Ponta showed maturity, wisdom and self control when naming the prosecutors. editor@romania-insider.com (photo source: gov.ro)