Brussels, 08/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - The Romanian Prime Minister, the Socialist Victor Ponta, is the subject of a criminal investigation over allegations of corruption.
On Friday 5 June, the National Anti-Corruption Court (DNA) established 17 separate charges against the head of government. Ponta, who beat his former rival Traian Basescu in the elections in summer 2013, is suspected, amongst other things, of money laundering, conflict of interests, tax evasion and forgery.
This procedure has sparked a political crisis in Romania, a member state which is still under the specific monitoring of the European Commission in the framework of the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification (known by its French acronym, CMV).
The Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis, immediately called on his Prime Minister to step down. “We are in the middle of an impossible situation for Romania, with the Prime Minister suspected of criminal activity”, he said.
Ponta has denied the accusations and refuses to go. “Under no circumstances can I accept that a prosecutor is above the Parliament, the government and the citizens”, he wrote on his Facebook page.
Protest marches were held in the country on Sunday 7 June calling for the resignation of the Prime Minister. (Solenn Paulic)