February 27 (SeeNews) - Romania's Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) said on Tuesday it rejected the proposal of justice minister Tudorel Toader to dismiss the chief of anti-corruption directorate DNA, Laura Codruta Kovesi.
"At the meeting held on February 27, 2018, the Prosecutor's Section of the Superior Council of Magistracy disapproved of the justice minister's request for the dismissal of Ms Laura Codruta Kovesi from the post of chief prosecutor of DNA," CSM said in a statement.
The motives for the decision, which is consultative in nature, will be published on the website of the council in the coming period, CSM added.
The decision came 15 minutes after Kovesi's public hearing at CSM.
On Thursday, Tudorel Toader said that he is seeking the dismissal of Kovesi, sparking protests across the country. Toader said Kovesi had allegedly damaged the image of the country abroad and accused her of being too authoritarian.
Romanian president Klaus Iohannis has the final say on the proposal to dismiss Kovesi. According to the law, he needed to wait for the consultative decision of the CSM. On Thursday night, Iohannis reiterated his satisfaction with DNA's activity.
On Sunday night, some 6,000 people held rallies on Sunday night in Bucharest and other Romanian cities to protest against the prposed dismissal of the DNA chief.
EU officials and anti-corruption institutions have praised DNA's activity in general and Kovesi's activity in particular on numerous occasions, stressing that her efforts are crucial for the country's fight against corruption.
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