Criminal charges and political support

Nine months after taking the reigns of power in Romania, the Social Democratic Party is taking a major test before the judiciary, as two top members of the Government are being prosecuted for corruption

Florentin Căpitănescu, 26.09.2017, 13:49

The investigation carried out by the National Anti-corruption Directorate, targeting the deputy Prime Minister Sevil Shhaideh, who is also the Minister of Regional Development, and the Minister Delegate for European Funds Rovana Plumb, has put the ruling Social Democratic Party on fire.

The party has decided to keep supporting the two politicians, especially since both of them claim they are innocent. According to the Anti-corruption Directorate, in 2013, when Shhaideh was State Secretary with Regional Development Ministry and Rovana Plumb was the Environment Minister, parts of the Belina island and the Pavel arm of the Danube were illegally transferred from state property into that of the Teleorman County administration, under a government decision.

According to prosecutors, only a couple of days after the decision was issued, the land was rented, for a rather symbolic amount, to a private company, specialized in road infrastructure, and winner for many years of state awarded contracts. The two properties were owned by the state and therefore could not be transferred into county council property under a mere government decision.

Prosecutors say that such transfers can only be operated if provided by law. The president of the Social Democratic Party Liviu Dragnea says the investigation sets a dangerous precedent and draws attention to the risk that all requests for real-estate transfers to the local administration, a move, which is necessary if such properties are to be included into a development plan, might get blocked. Liviu Dragnea:

Liviu Dragnea: “Many colleagues have said that such an approach is dangerous and unacceptable. Given that we are talking about a transfer from public to public property, this would mean that all transfers that have been operated so far have damaged the State.

Ludovic Orban, leader of the opposition National Liberal Party, has said that unless the two ministers resign, he will call for their sacking.

Ludovic Orban: “Keeping these ministers in their offices would seriously damage Romanias image and render the fight against corruption useless. Also, it would prevent Romania from getting rid of the bad image it has regarding corruption, which exists at the highest level.

Orban has also said that the liberals will support all the requests filed by prosecutors in order to start the criminal prosecution of the two officials. The National Anti-corruption Directorate has already asked for Parliaments approval to start the prosecution of Rovana Plumb, who is also a member of the Chamber of Deputies.