Alex Florentsa, left, and Marius Voineag, illustrative image. Sources: Shutterstock, Inquam Photos / Octav Ganea. Collage: Ion Mateș / HotNews
For the first time in Romania, it is possible that the appointment of new managements at the Prosecutor's Office means, in fact, the preservation of power, almost en bloc. Former heads of the big Prosecutor's Offices are prepared to preserve their influence, by moving from one leadership position to another.
In any institution, when leadership changes, the winners are traditionally the new ones. Those who come, not those who leave. Those appointed are those who assume responsibility, and those who finish their mandate, hand it over.
Several prosecutors with whom HotNews talked claim that, through the upcoming changes at the top of the General Prosecutor's Office, DNA and DIICOT, in reality power will be preserved in the hands of the same people who now lead the main judicial investigation institutions in Romania. Because of the sensitivity of the subject, the magistrates deliberated confidentially.
The current head of the DNA, Marius Voineag, and the general prosecutor Alex Florenta are no longer running for new mandates. But he is running for deputy positions.
Voineag is the only contender for the position of Deputy Prosecutor General. Bogdan Pîrlog, the prosecutor in Europe with the most disciplinary investigations, and the head of DNA Iași Cristina Chiriac, Voineag's subordinate, are running for the position of general prosecutor.
Head of the General Prosecutor's Office. The fight is between the prosecutor with the most disciplinary investigations and the prosecutor who caught Buzatu with the trunk of money. She has over 1 million euros in a savings account
There are three candidates for the position of chief prosecutor of the DNA left vacant by Voineag, including Tatiana Toader, Voineag's deputy, given chances in the system to take over the position.
Prosecutor General Alex Florenta also wants to remain at the top of the Prosecutor's Office and is running for the position of deputy of DIICOT.
“Whoever came up with this scheme was very clever”
How does the movement within the judiciary look?
Some of the magistrates' messages to HotNews also circulate between prosecutors.
“From the looks of these candidacies, there is no hope of improving the activity of the prosecutor's offices,” said one of the prosecutors.
“Marius Voineag is the main winner. He will be able to control the DNA in the future. He has close prosecutors. And from his new position at the General Prosecutor's Office, he will massively control, including the files with magistrates. He will secure them. Whoever thought up this scheme was very clever,” said another prosecutor.
Why is Voineag running alone for the position of deputy attorney general? “People are afraid to run,” claims a magistrate.
Or there are candidacies without chances, but with symbolism, says another prosecutor: “Pîrlog, who is running for general prosecutor and as head of DIICOT, is the most prepared of them, but he is a kamikaze. He goes for the show, but he does very well, it is needed.”
Another prosecutor talks about a “horrible signal for the prosecutor's office” and summarizes: “Really, some unseen forces coordinately move the general prosecutor, the head of the DNA or the other heads of the prosecutor's office from one position to another, like on a chessboard. And the Public Ministry is a constitutional category.”
The prosecutors with whom HotNews talked also say that after Monday, when the candidacies for the big prosecutor's offices were announced, the great disappointment remained related to the lack of a signal from Cotroceni.
“Nicușor Dan met with several prosecutors in Cotroceni. Some of them specifically asked him to give a message of confidence in the system. A message that would encourage prosecutors to run for the leadership of the Prosecutor's Offices. And nothing. Silence,” said one of the prosecutors who spoke to HotNews.
