Romanian President Defies Watchdogs, Appoints Controversial Prosecutors Amid Graft Concerns

BUCHAREST, April 9 (Reuters) – In a move that has drawn sharp criticism from judicial oversight bodies and anti-corruption activists, Romanian President Nicusor Dan appointed seven chief and deputy prosecutors late Wednesday. The decision bypassed the negative opinions of the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM), the country's top judicial regulator, and has intensified debates over the future of Romania's anti-graft drive.

The appointments come at a sensitive juncture for Romania's justice system. While the European Union lifted its special cooperation and verification mechanism (CVM) monitoring in 2023, citing progress, recent years have seen a noticeable slowdown in high-profile corruption cases and several controversial acquittals. Transparency International continues to rank Romania among the EU's most corrupt member states.

President Dan named Cristina Chiriac as the new Prosecutor General, Viorel Cerbu as head of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), and Codrin Miron to lead the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), along with four deputies.

The selection of Chiriac has proven particularly contentious. Civic groups and investigative journalists have accused her of previously withholding evidence in a sexual abuse case involving a bishop, who was later convicted. Chiriac has denied all allegations.

"The expectation I now have from the prosecuting units... is to speed up activity to meet Romanians' expectations," President Dan stated at a press conference. "Romanians see corruption, both high-level and in their daily interaction with state authorities."

Under Romanian law, the president formally appoints top prosecutors based on proposals from the Justice Minister. While the CSM's vetting is required, its endorsement is not legally binding—a loophole critics say was exploited in this instance. Justice Minister Radu Marinescu, of the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD), maintained his nominations despite the CSM's repeated rejections.

The decision has sparked immediate backlash. Former Justice Minister Stelian Ion called the appointments "a big mistake" in a social media post, warning that "to so easily ignore CSM's... negative opinion does not bode well" for judicial independence.

Dan, who is nearing the end of his first year in office, defended his stance, saying he formed his opinion after extensive consultations. "(The appointments) are the right choice for the time we live in," he asserted. "If for some reason I am wrong, I will be penalised in four years."

Reaction & Analysis:

"This is a dark day for Romanian justice," says Anca Popescu, a legal analyst with the Bucharest-based watchdog Justice Initiative. "Overriding the CSM sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the very filters designed to ensure prosecutor integrity. The Chiriac appointment, given the unresolved questions about her past conduct, is especially alarming."

Mihai Dobrescu, a political science professor at the University of Bucharest, offers a more measured view: "The President is operating within his legal prerogatives. The real test will be the output of these prosecutors. If case activity increases and transparency is upheld, public concern may subside. However, the political optics of defying the CSM are undeniably poor."

Vlad Toma, a columnist for Ziua newspaper, reacted sharply: "This isn't just a 'mistake'—it's a blatant hijacking of the judiciary by political forces. Dan and Marinescu are laughing in the face of the EU and every citizen who hoped for change. We're watching the deliberate unraveling of two decades of anti-corruption work, and it's disgusting."

(Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Keith Weir)