Iohannis: DNA must and will go ahead; I will further support anti-corruption fight even more.

President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday in Brussels that the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) must and will go ahead, adding that he will further support the anti-corruption fight "maybe even more." 

"If someone is now glad that the anti-corruption fight is slowing down, this is not true. The anti-corruption fight must go ahead and it will do so. (...) DNA is a body of highly trained professionals, DNA must and will go ahead. This step I made on Monday did not change my opinion about DNA, including Ms. Kovesi's work. They did a very good job, they are highly trained people and this activity must be appreciated. I appreciated her all the time and I backed them and I can say I will further support the anti-corruption fight, maybe even more," Iohannis said when asked why he decided to revoke Laura Codruta Kovesi as DNA chief prosecutor. 

He reiterated that he respects the rule of law and the Constitution, stressing that he does not say these things "for complacency or as a slogan." 

"I wish for Romania a strengthening of the rule of law, a strengthening of democracy. The Romanian path must be the path of a consolidated democracy that is based on our values, which NATO and the EU are also based on. That is why we are here. We are not guests, we are here full members. The Romanian path is the path of democratic values and of the rule of law. I wish for my country a strengthening of the rule of law and then it is obvious that the first man in the state is the first to respect the rule of law, to respect the Constitutional Court's decision.That it is why I put in practice the Constitutional Court's decision. At no time did I think not to respect the Constitution, the rule of law. On the contrary, I wish that this step that I made to be also understood as a step in the highest respect for the Constitution," Iohannis said. 

President Klaus Iohannis is attending the NATO summit, held on Wednesday and Thursday in Brussels. 

The head of state signed on Monday the decree for revoking Laura Codruta Kovesi as the chief prosecutor of the DNA.