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Romanian prime minister faces criminal investigation Romanian prime minister faces calls to step down over corruption allegations
(about 1 hour later)
Romanian anti-corruption prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation against the Prime minister, Victor Ponta, naming him as a suspect in crimes including forgery, money-laundering, conflict of interest and tax evasion. Romania’s president has urged the prime minister, Victor Ponta, to resign over corruption allegations including tax evasion and money-laundering.
Local media showed Ponta entering the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office on Friday morning. Ponta, who was named as a suspect by prosecutors on Friday in crimes including forgery, money-laundering, conflict of interest and tax evasion, said he would not resign, and that only parliament could dismiss him.
Prosecutors have made a series of high-profile arrests in recent months in what remains one of the poorest and most graft-addled countries in the European Union. The anti-corruption agency is known locally as the DNA. But, after meeting Ponta on Friday, President Klaus Iohannis said it was “an impossible situation for Romania”. The prime minister had met earlier with the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office, which has launched a criminal investigation against him.
“I came to the DNA like a normal person,” Ponta told reporters. “I didn’t give them any statement.” Asked whether he would resign, he said: “At the DNA, we don’t do politics.” Prosecutors have made a series of high-profile arrests in recent months in what remains one of the poorest and most graft-addled countries in the European Union.
Ponta’s finance minister resigned in March after corruption cases were launched against him, while his father-in-law and other senior lawmakers were also under investigation. “I came to the [anti-corruption agency] DNA like a normal person,” Ponta told reporters. “I didn’t give them any statement.” Asked whether he would resign, he said: “At the DNA, we don’t do politics.”
The allegations relate to Ponta’s work as a lawyer from 2007 to 2008 when he was also a lawmaker for the Social Democratic party. The prime minister is the most prominent suspect to be identified as Romania’s anti-corruption drive has intensified in recent months.
His finance minister resigned in March after corruption cases were launched against him, while his father-in-law and other senior lawmakers were also under investigation.
A former prosecutor who took office in 2012, Ponta faces a general election next year. His government is pushing a series of disputed tax cuts through parliament.A former prosecutor who took office in 2012, Ponta faces a general election next year. His government is pushing a series of disputed tax cuts through parliament.