A strong attack<\/b> on Laura Kovesi<\/b> has been launched by former prime minister <\/b>of Romania<\/b>, Victor Ponta<\/b>.<\/p>\n
An open front<\/b> with the European Public Prosecutor<\/b> is maintained by the former prime minister of Romania, who in a recent intervention appeared highly critical of her actions. Victor Ponta<\/b>, who was one of Laura Covesi<\/b>‘s key political targets during her tenure at the Romanian anti-corruption agency (DNA<\/b>), he directly blames her for his personal targeting and for the damage caused to the country<\/b>.<\/p>\n
Despite the fact that Ponta himself, from his positions as prime minister and justice minister, had chosen Kovesi to run DNA in 2013, their relationship has evolved into a long legal battle<\/b>. The investigation launched against him a few months after her appointment led to a judicial calvary that lasted until 2018, the year in which his final acquittal<\/b> occurred.<\/p>\n
Asked whether he regretted the choice he made at the time<\/b>, Ponta argues that “first of all, Mrs. Covesi was promoted to a very large extent by certain circles in the Romanian intelligence services (the former Securitate)<\/b>. She had never acted as a prosecutor, but was strongly promoted to former President Basesku. And Mr. Basesku, with connections to the former Securitate, promoted her as prosecutor general. Then, when I became prime minister, she started creating political cases<\/b>. And it was sort of a compromise to accept her in the hope that in the end she would act in accordance with the law. It was a big mistake for both of us<\/b>, because both Mr. Basesku and his family were hunted by Ms. Covesi, as was I and my family.”<\/p>\n
According to Romania’s former prime minister<\/b>: “She just wanted to promote a different agenda from the interests of the Romanian government. And she never secured convictions.<\/b> Her method was simply to accuse and use the media, especially the European media, to make accusations and allegations. But not only me, all persons accused by Ms. Covesi were acquitted by all courts and all judges<\/b>. But she caused a lot of damage to the country to be pushed to the European level.”<\/p>\n
Asked about whether she believes she became a key target of Ms. Covessi because the prosecutor was serving certain political or other interests<\/b>, Mr Ponda<\/b> says that “unfortunately, not only I, I was caretaker prime minister at the time, but many other politicians were also targets of Ms. Covessi<\/b>. And for all of them, the process was the same. Big accusations. It was then proven before the court that all these accusations were only for the media, without being based on evidence<\/b>. And they were all acquitted<\/b>. Ms. Covesi merely made spectacles for the media<\/b>, without ever being able to offer more than that. She created a circle, a group of five, six prosecutors who did her bidding. Most of them now follow her to Brussels, working for the European Public Prosecutor’s Office<\/b>. Some others have already been punished and it has been proven before the courts that they committed abuses and used criminal charges only for political purposes<\/b>.”<\/p>\n
Victor Ponta<\/b> reiterates that the European Public Prosecutor serves a specific agenda<\/b>. As he says, “Ms. Covessi has built her career on this pattern: explaining to Western politicians that all Eastern European countries, all societies and all politicians are dirty<\/b> and that she is the only one fighting them. And she used this pattern to advance her career and find a “safe haven.”<\/b> She only focuses on eastern countries or southern countries, like Greece<\/b>, never touching Germany, France or any of her big western supporters.”<\/p>\n
As she says: “For us in Romania it is obvious that Ms. Covesi always had in mind to return to Romania for a political career<\/b>. She is now completing her term of office, six years in Brussels, and has already started to get involved in Romanian politics. And she hopes to return and play that role of “anti-corruption fighter” again. So evenwhat she does in Greece and in other countries, for us it is obvious that it is just a way to promote herself for the Romanian political scene<\/b>.”<\/p>\n
When asked if she can give some advice to Greek politicians<\/b>, K. Ponta replied that “I can’t give advice, but I can tell the government and politicians in Greece that Ms. Covesi is never looking for a real case.<\/b> She just wants to prove to Brussels: “Look, I found corruption, but because of the local situation I can’t prove it”. In the end, she spent six years as a very well-paid European official. She has almost zero results<\/b>.”<\/p>\n
“Now I feel sorry for Greece, but it seems to me that Greece was found as a scapegoat for all of Ms. Covesi’s wasted years<\/b>. She did the same to Romania. In fact, it was just creating political envelopes<\/b>. She was promoting herself and the circle that promoted her. And Romania lost a lot of money and investment during her tenure. In the end there was only wasted time, wasted lives and wasted money<\/b> for the country. And I just hope it doesn’t affect you as much as it affected our country.”<\/p>\n
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