Romania's High Court on Wednesday revoked special measures introduced against magistrate Laura Codruta Kovesi, a hot favourite to become EU's first-ever top prosecutor, who last week was indicted on corruption charges.
"My appeal was admitted. I can now leave Romania", Kovesi told reporters after the court's decision overturning special judicial measures, including a ban on leaving the country without prosecutors' consent.
The measures had been imposed for 60 days by a new panel charged with investigating magistrates, which last week indicted Kovesi on counts of bribery, abuse of office and false testimony.
As well as the travel ban, during this time she would have been prevented from working in her current post at the General Prosecutor's office.
The travel restrictions would have prevented her from taking part in further stages of the application process for the EU prosecutor post, if she were required to attend in person.
"There are some other prosecutors attacked on a daily basis. We're all going through these campaigns because there are some who want to steal undisturbed and we are not letting them", Kovesi said on Wednesday, before the decision on her appeal was announced.
"We have nothing to be afraid of. It will be proven that all these accusations against us, prosecutors and judges, are groundless", she added.
Kovesi became a household name as head of Romania's National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA), which she led from 2013 to 2018 before being controversially removed at the government's behest.
Kovesi has been backed by the European Parliament for the position and on Wednesday her candidacy was praised by Frans Timmermans, first vice-president of the European Commission.
"She is a very good prosecutor, a top quality prosecutor and I admire her for her courage," Timmermans said.
During Kovesi's time as head of the DNA, hundreds of elected officials were convicted of corruption offences, earning her the enmity of many in Romania's political class and criticism that she had overstepped her mandate.
Many Romanians retain a positive view of her as a champion in the fight to rid the country of endemic corruption.
The government has repeatedly clashed with the EU over the ruling Social Democratic Party's proposed judicial reforms, which the EU Commission believes will hamper the fight against corruption.
The rows have overshadowed Romania's first-ever term as president of the European Union, with the government in Bucharest also making clear its opposition to Kovesi taking the new job in Brussels.
Romania’s High Court on Wednesday revoked special measures introduced against magistrate Laura Codruta Kovesi, a hot favourite to become EU’s first-ever top prosecutor, who last week was indicted on corruption charges.
“My appeal was admitted. I can now leave Romania”, Kovesi told reporters after the court’s decision overturning special judicial measures, including a ban on leaving the country without prosecutors’ consent.
The measures had been imposed for 60 days by a new panel charged with investigating magistrates, which last week indicted Kovesi on counts of bribery, abuse of office and false testimony.
As well as the travel ban, during this time she would have been prevented from working in her current post at the General Prosecutor’s office.
The travel restrictions would have prevented her from taking part in further stages of the application process for the EU prosecutor post, if she were required to attend in person.
“There are some other prosecutors attacked on a daily basis. We’re all going through these campaigns because there are some who want to steal undisturbed and we are not letting them”, Kovesi said on Wednesday, before the decision on her appeal was announced.
“We have nothing to be afraid of. It will be proven that all these accusations against us, prosecutors and judges, are groundless”, she added.
Kovesi became a household name as head of Romania’s National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA), which she led from 2013 to 2018 before being controversially removed at the government’s behest.
Kovesi has been backed by the European Parliament for the position and on Wednesday her candidacy was praised by Frans Timmermans, first vice-president of the European Commission.
“She is a very good prosecutor, a top quality prosecutor and I admire her for her courage,” Timmermans said.
During Kovesi’s time as head of the DNA, hundreds of elected officials were convicted of corruption offences, earning her the enmity of many in Romania’s political class and criticism that she had overstepped her mandate.
Many Romanians retain a positive view of her as a champion in the fight to rid the country of endemic corruption.
The government has repeatedly clashed with the EU over the ruling Social Democratic Party’s proposed judicial reforms, which the EU Commission believes will hamper the fight against corruption.
The rows have overshadowed Romania’s first-ever term as president of the European Union, with the government in Bucharest also making clear its opposition to Kovesi taking the new job in Brussels.
