RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

The Romanian Prime Minister Steps down as Leader of the Social Democratic Party

Victor Ponta has decided to step down as leader of the Social Democratic Party.

The Romanian Prime Minister Steps down as Leader of the Social Democratic Party
The Romanian Prime Minister Steps down as Leader of the Social Democratic Party

, 13.07.2015, 13:23

After 5 and a half
years as leader of the biggest party in Romania, Victor Ponta has decided to
step down and take no position within the Social Democratic Party until, as he
says in a Facebook message posted on Sunday,
he proves his innocence in the case in which the National Anticorruption
Directorate has accused him of corruption. Currently the prime minister is
being prosecuted for forgery, tax evasion and money laundering, which he
allegedly committed while a lawyer. The case also involves his party colleague,
Senator Dan Sova.

In the same Facebook message, Ponta says that other members
of the ruling Social Democratic Party too have temporarily given up their
political positions within the party until they have clarified their legal
situation, and he cannot ask the others to make such a sacrifice, without
making it himself. This is his first step backwards following November’s
presidential elections, the moment that actually marked the decline of one of
the most prominent young politicians in Romania. The resounding failure in the
race for the office of president of the country, caused by a tactical error,
that of treating voters abroad with contempt, has weakened his position within
the party.

Still, despite the party tradition, which says that if the leader of
the party loses the election, he also loses the position of head of party,
Victor Ponta miraculously managed to ease tensions within the Social Democratic
Party and stay president. That was an absolute first in Romania, which,
unfortunately, was followed by another one, starring the same Victor Ponta. He
became the first acting head of government to be prosecuted for corruption.
Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis and the right-wing opposition called on
Ponta to resign and thus avoid having Romania suffer from a bad image, the more
so as the country was making efforts to convince its western partners that the
fight against corruption was not phony.

However, Ponta refused to do so, and
played a trick, which weakened even more his political position. On the very
same day when he was supposed to be heard by the anticorruption prosecutors,
the prime minister left to Turkey to have his knee operated on. He has now
finally returned, one month later. In the meantime, the coalition formed around
the Social Democratic Party has suffered one first major blow: the National
Union for the Progress of Romania, member of the coalition, has endorsed Mihai
Razvan Ungureanu as head of the Foreign Intelligence Service.


Following the announcement that he
steps down as president of the Social Democratic Party, the Liberal Party has
again called on Ponta to also step down as prime minister. Victor Ponta has
understood that his remaining president of the Social Democratic Party damages
the image of the party, so, logically, he should also understand that the
damage for the Government and for Romania is even bigger said the liberal
co-president Alina Gorghiu. The story, therefore, might have the ending desired
by the liberals, even in the short-run. Without him being a leader of the
Social Democratic Party, Victor Ponta risks being affected by major
consequences, both with regard to his authority within the government and also
within he coalition which seems so far from the initial harmony.

Photo: Kelly Sikkema / unsplash.com
Today in the News Tuesday, 07 October 2025

Digital legal age in Romania

  Romania is among the first European countries to take a decisive step in regulating the protection of children on the internet. The Senate...

Digital legal age in Romania
sursă foto CFR Călători
Today in the News Tuesday, 07 October 2025

The Bucharest-Kyiv rail link, back in operation

A direct train on the Kyiv – Ungheni – Bucharest route will be put into circulation starting October 10, 2025, the national rail company...

The Bucharest-Kyiv rail link, back in operation
Premierul român Ilie Bolojan a prezentat rezultatul primelor 100 de zile de mandat
Today in the News Monday, 06 October 2025

The Bolojan Cabinet – the first 100 days

100 days after taking office, Romania’s Prime Minister, Ilie Bolojan, presented a report of the measures he implemented, with an emphasis on those...

The Bolojan Cabinet – the first 100 days
Extreme Weather hits Bucharest and southern Romania Photo: IGSU
Today in the News Monday, 06 October 2025

Bad Weather in Romania

The month of October ushered in a series of extreme weather phenomena in Romania, a country, which was hit by heavy downpours and cold weather....

Bad Weather in Romania
Today in the News Friday, 03 October 2025

European Meeting in Copenhagen

The conflict in Ukraine and ensuring the European security were high on the talks agenda of the European leaders, who on Thursday night ended two...

European Meeting in Copenhagen
Today in the News Friday, 03 October 2025

Bills on defence

For years, Romanian authorities have been working to update legislation on preparing the population for defence, which has become all the more...

Bills on defence
Today in the News Thursday, 02 October 2025

A Drone Wall on the Eastern Flank

The Europeans are taking a stand after the airspace of their countries has been violated by Russian planes and drones. In Tulcea county,...

A Drone Wall on the Eastern Flank
Today in the News Thursday, 02 October 2025

Budget adjustment in Romania

  With a higher deficit target, 8.4% of GDP as renegotiated with the European Commission, the Romanian government Wednesday passed the first...

Budget adjustment in Romania

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company