Justice Minister Tudorel Toader announced on Thursday that next week he will present in Parliament the assessment report on the activity of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), Directorate for the Investigation of Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) and Public Ministry.
Tudorel Toader cut short his visit to Japan and Thursday he attended the Gov’t sitting, after Prime Minister Viorica Dancila asked him to return to Bucharest in order to shed light on the latest pieces of information that surfaced in the public space regarding the DNA.
He said that he had a discussion with the Premier before the Government meeting on Thursday, the Premier asking him to make public his assessment on the activity of the Public Ministry.
The Justice Minister stated that, in line with the law, he will present before the joint Chambers of Parliament an assessment report on the activity of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), Directorate for the Investigation of Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) and Public Ministry.
“Presenting this report represents an obligation on the part of the Justice Minister,” Toader said.
He pointed out that before accepting the office of Justice Minister he received guarantees that the political factor would not get involved in the Justice Ministry’s activity, something that is respected: “Before I accepted the office of Justice Minister, I talked with the leaders of the ruling coalition. I received guarantees of non-interference on the part of the political factor in the Ministry’s activity, in the decisions I will take as Justice Minister, something that was and is currently being respected.”
Tudorel Toader and PM Dancila discuss DNA situation before Gov’t meeting
On his return from Japan on Thursday, Justice Minister Tudorel Toader discussed the DNA situation with Premier Viorica Dancila. The minister was urgently called back to Romania to take measures regarding the leadership of the DNA.
“I believe we don’t have to have a discussion by phone, I’m waiting for Minister Toader and tomorrow we will have a discussion,” Premier Viorica Dancila stated on Wednesday evening, according to Mediafax.
“Depending on the things discussed… you realise I can’t prejudge. Minister Toader will talk about the arguments he has taken into account. But I will ask him to make a statement about his decision, after we have a prior discussion,” Viorica Dancila stated when asked if she will take a decision about the DNA on Thursday.
Likewise, she stated that the topic was not discussed during PSD’s Executive Committee meeting. Asked whether Toader should discuss the issue within the coalition too, Dancila said that the Justice Minister should first of all talk with her.
“I don’t believe I can say whether someone can or can no longer lead the DNA. For me it’s important that citizens must continue to trust state institutions, must trust the judiciary, we mustn’t talk about the judiciary as a whole, we mustn’t accuse the entire judiciary, but we must restore people’s confidence in the judiciary. As Prime Minister, I’m concerned, and I don’t feel comfortable, like I said, since I saw that evidence can be fabricated for [sic] a Prime Minister,” Viorica Dancila added.
Asked about a dossier she might have in this context, Dancila said anything is possible.
“Anything is possible, if there was a precedent there, the second precedent may also exist, but I believe all these details can be given by someone who is justified to do so, namely the Justice Minister,” the Premier stated.
Gov’t Spokesman: There has been a talk between PM and JusMin
Spokesman of the Government Nelu Barbu stated on Thursday that there has been a talk between Prime Minister Viorica Dancila and Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, follow which the latter will hold a press briefing in the afternoon.
“Yes, there has been a discussion prior to the Gov’t sitting between the PM and Mr Minister of Justice. Mr Minister of Justice will make a press statement this afternoon at the Justice Ministry,” Nelu Barbu told a news conference at the the Victoria Palace, when asked by the journalists whether or not there has been a discussion between the PM and the Justice Minister.
He mentioned that he didn’t attend the discussion and cannot offer details regarding the topic that was tackled.
“You can await Mr Minister’s statement,” Barbu added.
In respect to the Gov’t standpoint at the moment regarding the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), the Spokesman stated: “We await the Justice Minister’s standpoint.”
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