Senators strip president Basescu of prosecutor-naming privileges

The Senate Juridical Commission voted on Thursday an amendment that modifies the law regarding prosecutors’ naming procedures. According to the amendment, the chief prosecutors in the Anti-Graft Prosecution Office (DNA), the Organized Crime and Terrorism Investigations Department (DIICOT) and the Prosecution Office of the High Court of Justice and Causation will no longer be named by Romania president Traian Basescu, but by the Supreme Council of Magistrates, after a suggestion made by the Justice Ministry.

Also according to the amendment, the chief-prosecutors and their deputies will be named only if they were active for at least ten years as prosecutors of judges. Their mandates will be three-years long and only two consecutive mandates are allowed.

In order to come into force, the amendment must be voted in a Senate session.