President Iohannis, about CCR's decision on Kovesi's removal from office: Awaiting Court motivation

President Klaus Iohannis stated on Tuesday that he is awaiting the Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR)'s motivation regarding the removal from office of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi, highlighting that prosecutors mustn't be "politically controlled" and the authority of the Justice Minister should be used to defend them.

"I am waiting for the Court's motivation. (...) I am personally convinced that prosecutors must be independent. Prosecutors should under no circumstances be politically controlled. They cannot be within the remit of a politician. (...) There is an article in the Constitution saying that prosecutors act under the minister's authority. I understand the minister has or should have authority in the field to defend prosecutors. (...) The minister's authority should be directed to facilitating the prosecutors' work. (...) I consider respecting Romania's rule of law, taking care, as much as I can, that prosecutors stay independent, in observance of the Constitution," the head of state affirmed at Cotroceni Presidential Palace.