Romania's Laura Codruța Kövesi has secured her position as the EU's top public prosecutor | Daniel Mihailescu/AFP via Getty Images Macron, Parliament the winners as Romanian backed for prosecutor job Laura Codruța Kövesi had French president’s support but not that of her own government.

Romania’s former anti-corruption chief has scored another victory over the country's ruling party — this time by claiming a top EU job.

Laura Codruța Kövesi, who has secured high-profile convictions of ruling Social Democrats and other top politicians in her home country, is poised to become the first EU chief public prosecutor after a vote by ambassadors in Brussels on Thursday.

EU countries had earlier supported Kövesi's French rival for the job — Jean-François Bohnert — while the European Parliament backed the Romanian. Thursday's decision means that preparations for the European Public Prosecutor's Office, which will tackle crimes related to the EU budget, can press ahead.

The move is a big win for the European Parliament — in particular the centrist-liberal Renew Europe and center-right European People's Party — who fought Kövesi's corner. It is also a victory for French President Emmanuel Macron, who reversed his own position over the summer and backed Kövesi rather than his countryman Bohnert.

But it's a blow for the Romanian Social Democrats (PSD), who last year had Kövesi sacked as head of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA).

The decision was a victory for "all Romanians who in the last years supported the anti-corruption fight and defended the rule of law, especially in the difficult moments,” Kövesi told Romanian broadcaster Digi24.

Romanian opposition politicians were quick to claim credit for Kövesi's victory: One group, USR PLUS Alliance, which is part of Renew Europe, wrote on Facebook that it was its MEPs who had "made the difference that led to today's positive vote."

President Klaus Iohannis, a former member of the opposition National Liberal Party and who hopes to stay in his post after November's election, said he is happy about Kövesi’s victory.

“Today's result is an important victory for Romania, especially since it was obtained despite the fact that the PSD government has tried permanently to block the candidacy of a professional, recognized for her fight against corruption and in the defense of the rule of law,” he said in a statement. Iohannis was forced to fire Kövesi as the chief of the national anti-corruption body last year after being ordered to do so by the Constitutional Court at the request of the justice minister.

But it was Macron who ensured Kövesi's victory when he took the unusual step of abandoning his own candidate as part of a strategy to empower liberal groups in the EU's eastern states.

Nominating Kövesi for the top prosecutor post also allowed Macron to make the case that a citizen of a newer member country will now hold an important post in the bloc, despite eastern countries having no senior position in the European Commission or European Council.

Romanian politicians have high hopes for Kövesi.

"The EPPO must be established quickly, so it can start tackling the scourge of corruption & defending the rule of law in Europe," tweeted Romanian opposition politician Dacian Cioloș, who leads Renew Europe in the European Parliament.

But expectations among Kövesi's most ardent supporters could face a reality check. The new institution's competence is limited to crimes related to the EU budget, tackling corruption or fraud connected to EU funds, and issues such as cross-border VAT fraud — a very different kind of work from her time in Romania.

Nevertheless, Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă maintains that Kövesi is the wrong choice for the job.

Romania’s image would suffer if pending accusations against Kövesi prove to be true, Dăncilă told Romanian radio station Europa Libera. "We all have to be equal before the law and it's important that before occupying a position, one should be able to clarify all the accusations pending against one's person," she said.

Kövesi was indicted earlier this year on charges of bribery, abuse of office and false statements and was briefly banned from leaving the country. Romania’s High Court lifted the travel ban shortly after.

The former DNA chief told Digi24 she thinks the accusations have been laid to rest.

“It’s a too beautiful day for the Romanian justice [system] to enter into a public debate with politicians who attack us,” she said.

This article is part of POLITICO’s coverage of the EU budget, tracking the development of the seven-year Multiannual Financial Framework. For a complimentary trial, email pro@politico.eu mentioning Budget.