Justice minister Catalin Predoiu has nominated three officials to head Romania’s three key prosecutor’s offices_ the post of prosecutor general, chief anti-corruption prosecutor and the chief anti-crime prosecutor.
Predoiu said he’d picked Gabriela Scutea, 47, who had “the most solid professional resume” for the post of prosecutor general. Scutea is currently a prosecutor at the Court of Appeals in the city of Brasov. She previously worked as a state secretary at the justice ministry and served as a deputy to Laura Codruta Kovesi from 2006-2013 when Kovesi was prosecutor general.
She represented the justice ministry at the European Commission between 2013-2016 and a year later she reportedly helped delay a controversial ordinance that would have diluted the anti-corruption fight initiated by the Social Democrats. Massive protests broke out during the delay, and it was eventually revoked.
Crin Nicu Bologa, a deputy prosecutor in the county of Salaj, has been nominated as chief anti-corruption prosecutor. Predoiu said he was a guarantee that the „fight against corruption will continue energetically.” The media has reported on his extensive property portfolio in Transylvania and near the Black Sea, although there is no suggestion of wrongdoing. He wants more protection for suspects from the media and has proposed a special entrance to the anti-corruption agency where suspects can’t be filmed.
He opposes the creation of a special department to investigate magistrates for wrongdoing which he calls „an offense to honest prosecutors and judges.”
Giorgiana Hosu who has been the acting head of the office dealing with organized crime since October 2019 has been nominated to head the agency, known as DIICOT.
She was a deputy at the agency since October 2018, and also between 2013-2015. She interviewed for the post in 2015 but lost, reportedly because her husband had been charged with traffic of influence. Predoiu said she was well positioned to fight cross-border crime.
The three nominations will be forwarded to the Superior Council of Magistrates for non-binding approval, then President Klaus Iohannis makes a final decision. He is allowed to reject a nomination once.
