JusMin Toader on notifying court: I did not act on my behalf, but on behalf of gov't

Justice Minister Tudorel Toader said on Wednesday that the decision to notify the Romanian Constitutional Court (CCR) after President Klaus Iohannis' refusal to remove from office head of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) Laura Codruta Kovesi is not some personal initiative, but he acted on behalf of the Government of which he is a member.

After attending an event organised by the Bucharest School of Economics (ASE), Toader was asked by journalists to comment on a statement by President Iohannis that the justice minister "is disgruntled" because his request for Kovesi's removal was denied.

"If he told you, can I contradict him? The President of the Republic always thinks he is right, does not he? I have not acted on my behalf, and that I can tell you so that anyone can hear it. I behave like the minister of justice on behalf of the ministry I co-ordinate, and at the same time being a member of the Government of the ruling alliance. So this hypothesis is absolutely excluded because I did not act and do not act personally. To back my argument, I do not think that the prime minister, the alliance in power would heed to my personal request. I acted and will act on behalf of the government only," Toader explained.

Asked about his expectation from notifying CCR, Toader replied that the Constitutional Court will rule "in favour of the rule of law."

President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday there was "no conflict and no ground" for the Constitutional Court to be act following his decision not to remove from office the chief anti-graft prosecutor.

"In my opinion, there is no conflict and no grounds for the Constitutional Court notified. In the whole process initiated by the minister with his request for removal, in requesting the opinion of the Supreme Council of Magistrates (CSM) and finally my decision the legislation in force in this field was observed 100 percent, and as we all know, the law leaves it to the president whether or not to accept this proposal for removal. There is no legal basis," said Iohannis.

He stressed that, as far as he is concerned, the procedure was completed.

"It would be particularly odd if every time a decision-maker makes a decision that does not convince a partner or institutions we face a constitutional conflict; I do not think so. Personally, I think we can understand that the minister is personally disgruntled that his request was denied, but from there to a constitutional conflict is a long way. I repeat, there is no conflict between the President and the Government, and there is but absolutely no basis for a referral to the CCR. What is there to be notified or the court to rule on? That I did not agree on a matter where the law expressly tells me that I can agree or disagree. Or can the curt rule on the timeliness of the decision I made? No way. From my perspective, the procedure is over," said Iohannis.