Justice Minister Tudorel Toader announced on Wednesday that he would start the procedures for the removal from office of Attorney General Augustin Lazar.
He presented a report on Lazar's managerial activity.
"Pursuant to the provisions of Article 54 (4), in conjunction with Article 51 (2) (b) of Law 303/2004, as further amended and supplemented in regards to the statute of judges and prosecutors, I am hereby commencing the procedure for the removal from office of Romania's Attorney General Mr Augustin Augustin Lazar," Toader said at the Ministry of Justice.
He added that the assessment report and the proposal for the removal of the attorney general, will be submitted to the Prosecution Section of the Supreme Council of Magistrates (CSM) in the evening to study for an analysis and a consultative opinion, as well as to the President of Romania for a decision in accordance with his legal powers on the matter.
Toader added that the facts listed in the report are "intolerable" for the rule of law, and Lazar's managerial activity violates his constitutional and legal obligations.
"We consider that the actions and deeds listed in this report, intolerable for the rule of law, show that Mr Augustin Lazar's managerial activity violates his constitutional and legal obligations. Given the circumstances, the continued occupation and exercise by Mr Lazar of the highest office of the Public Prosecution Service is no longer tenable. All the evidence presented support the seriousness of the behaviours, the public messages of the attorney general who, through the management implemented, hijacked the activity of the Public Prosecution Service away from its constitutional role," said Toader.
"Pursuant to the provisions of Article 54 (4), in conjunction with Article 51 (2) (b) of Law 303/2004, as further amended and supplemented in regards to the statute of judges and prosecutors, I am hereby commencing the procedure for the removal from office of Romania's Attorney General Mr Augustin Augustin Lazar," Toader said at the Ministry of Justice.
He added that the assessment report and the proposal for the removal of the attorney general, will be submitted to the Prosecution Section of the Supreme Council of Magistrates (CSM) in the evening to study for an analysis and a consultative opinion, as well as to the President of Romania for a decision in accordance with his legal powers on the matter.
Toader added that the facts listed in the report are "intolerable" for the rule of law, and Lazar's managerial activity violates his constitutional and legal obligations.
"We consider that the actions and deeds listed in this report, intolerable for the rule of law, show that Mr Augustin Lazar's managerial activity violates his constitutional and legal obligations. Given the circumstances, the continued occupation and exercise by Mr Lazar of the highest office of the Public Prosecution Service is no longer tenable. All the evidence presented support the seriousness of the behaviours, the public messages of the attorney general who, through the management implemented, hijacked the activity of the Public Prosecution Service away from its constitutional role," said Toader.