Romania’s General Prosecutor resigns amid motorcade scandal

Romania’s General Prosecutor Tiberiu Nitu handed in his resignation on Tuesday, February 2. He made this decision after his name appeared in an abuse of office investigation carried by Romania’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) on former Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea. The DNA has been investigating Gabriel Oprea for illegally using a motorcade in his official and unofficial trips. The DNA also found that Oprea had also illegally provided a motorcade for the General Prosecutor. Tiberiu Nitu has been using this privilege since April 2014. According to DNA, no other officials have used motorcades last year, except the President and the Prime Minister, who legally benefit from police escort. Several politicians asked for Tiberiu Nitu’s resignation after this information became public in late January. The General Prosecutor said in a press release that he hadn’t asked or benefited from a motorcade, as this term is defined by the law. He explained that he was only provided with an escort for protection. He also added that the protection measures provided to him have been proportional to the potential risks he was exposed to. Tiberiu Nitu also mentioned his results as General Prosecutor, which have also been mentioned by the European Commission’s latest Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) report. The General Prosecutor’s Office accomplishments include fighting low-level corruption and reorganizing the structures in which Romanian prosecutors operate. Tiberiu Nitu had been General Prosecutor since May 2013. His mandate was going to expire in May this year. Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis has accepted Nitu’s resignation. He will name a new General Prosecutor. Former Romanian Interior Minister may lose his immunity and face prosecution Romanian anticorruption prosecutors want to investigate former Interior Minister for abuse of office editor@romania-insider.com