Romania PM names new justice minister
(BUCHAREST) - Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Thursday appointed a former prosecutor as justice minister, a key area monitored by the European Commission.
Robert Cazanciuc, 41, served as prosecutor before being named secretary general of the foreign ministry in 2009.
The appointment came days after Ponta, who had filled in as interim justice minister since the end of March, also nominated candidates for the key posts of prosecutor general and head of the anti-graft prosecutor's office, a move criticised as lacking transparency.
Both jobs are crucial in the fight against high-level corruption, closely monitored by Brussels since Romania joined the European Union in 2007.