New heads of the major prosecutor’s offices in Romania
The fight against corruption must be the top priority for the new heads of the major prosecutor’s offices, said President Nicuşor Da
Leyla Cheamil, 09.04.2026, 14:00
Romanian President Nicușor Dan has appointed the new heads of the major prosecutor’s offices, following interviews organized by the Ministry of Justice and hearings before the Superior Council of Magistracy. They are Cristina Chiriac, Prosecutor General; Viorel Cerbu, head of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate; and Codrin Miron, who will serve as head of DIICOT, the anti-mafia prosecutor’s office. The head of state said that the fight against corruption and major drug trafficking and tax evasion networks must be the priority for the new heads. He also said he expects the major prosecutor’s offices to become more dynamic following the appointments he made to their leadership, because Romanians encounter corruption—and major corruption—in their daily interactions with state authorities.
“The National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) handles major corruption cases, while the General Prosecutor’s Office handles day-to-day corruption. I expect DIICOT to dismantle major drug trafficking networks and major tax evasion networks,” Nicușor Dan emphasized. At the same time, the president stressed that he expects the three appointed chief prosecutors to maintain constant communication with their subordinate prosecutors. He also wants to strike a balance between prosecutors’ routine work and the time they devote to cases that have a significant impact on society.
On the other hand, Save Romania Union expressed its dissatisfaction, arguing that the appointments should have been accompanied by a process that “unequivocally inspires trust and transparency” and claiming that they bear the “mark” of the Social Democratic Party. The party stated that the Social Democratic Minister of Justice, Radu Marinescu, who proposed the new heads, led a flawed process that failed to inspire many honest prosecutors within the system. According to the USR, civil society’s concerns are legitimate. “The warnings came from honest prosecutors within the system. They came from the Superior Council of Magistracy. They came from anti-corruption NGOs. They came from people who protested in the streets at pivotal moments over the past decades and stood up for an independent judiciary. The president promised that, after six months, results would begin to show. “Now it is the responsibility of those newly appointed to refute all criticism through action, to live up to the expectations Romanians have of the justice system,” reads a statement from the USR.
The head of state, Nicușor Dan, stated, however, that he had not consulted with the leaders of the PSD-PNL-USR-UDMR governing coalition regarding those appointments, adding that he had formed his own opinion about the candidates following discussions with dozens of prosecutors. He has stated he is confident he made the right choices and the correct decisions, which are sound under the current circumstances. For his part, Justice Minister Radu Marinescu has stated that the procedure was conducted in full transparency, and there have been no personal stakes, figures, or egos involved. (MI)
