National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi refused on Thursday, for the fourth time, to go before the parliamentary committee of inquiry into the presidential elections of 2009, where she was summoned for Wednesday morning, reiterating that she does not hold information or documents needed to clarify the circumstances and the causes of the events subjected to parliamentary inquiry.
“I inform you that I do not hold ‘information and/or documents needed to clarify the circumstances and causes of the events subjected to parliamentary inquiry,’” Laura Codruta Kovesi informed the members of the parliamentary committee of inquiry into the presidential elections of 2009.
The DNA Chief Prosecutor had been summoned again, for Wednesday, before the parliamentary committee of inquiry, after the Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) decision according to which she is obligated to go before the committee was published in the Official Journal.
“I don’t have preconceived ideas, we continue to do our duty. It’s her decision whether to show up or not. (…) Unfortunately, Romania has included in the Constitution, based on the model of other states, the possibility of having special committees of inquiry, but it did not fully understand the importance of this committee [sic] and their weight,” Committee Chairman Oana Florea stated when asked what would happen if the DNA Chief Prosecutor does not go before the committee.
“The CCR states the obligation of any person who holds public office to come in Parliament in virtue of the principle of loyal collaboration and of good faith, in order to clarify significant aspects and events in the life of society,” she added.
On October 3, the Constitutional Court admitted the notification lodged by the two Speakers of Parliament – Liviu Dragnea and Calin Popescu Tariceanu – in what concerns the DNA Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi’s obligation to show up before the parliamentary committee of inquiry into the presidential elections of 2009 or to provide written answers to its queries.
In the substantiation of its decision which obligates DNA Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi to go before the parliamentary committee of inquiry into the presidential elections of 2009, the CCR points out that the DNA Chief Prosecutor infringed on Parliament’s authority by refusing to go before the committee, and did not prove loyalty to the values and principles consecrated by the Constitution. On the other hand, three of the CCR’s nine judges – Livia Stanciu, Maya Teodoroiu and Stefan Minea – demonstrate the contrary and state that the DNA Chief Prosecutor cannot be forced to go before a parliamentary committee of inquiry.
Laura Codruta Kovesi had previously refused to go before the parliamentary committee of inquiry on three occasions, explaining that she does not hold information according to which persons or authorities got involved in the electoral process to vitiate its result.
