Romanian Senate Speaker Faces Graft Probe

The Speaker of Romania's Senate, Calin Popescu Tariceanu, who served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2008, faces a vote on immunity in parliament after anti-corruption prosecutors on Wednesday sought to start an investigation.

Tariceanu, who is also head of the Alliance for Liberals and Democrats, ALDE, the junior coalition ally of the Social Democrats, is accused of taking 800,000 euros in a bribe as prime minister in exchange for amending a government contract with an Austrian company.

He allegedly used the money to cover electoral expenses, the prosecutors said on Thursday. The same press release from the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, DNA, also said that prosecutors had opened the case on the request of Austrian counterparts.

The prosecutors said they had filed a request to investigate his affairs with the Attorney General's office.

However, Senators in the Justice Commission will have to approve the request, and the Senate must vote to approve lifting his immunity for the investigation to proceed.

Tariceanu responded on Wednesday, insisting he was a victim of politically motivated investigations.

The Senate Speaker was acquitted in May of perjury in a case related to the illegal return of property confiscated by the communist regime, which also involved Prince Paul of Romania.

Tariceanu has been a staunch supporter of the ruling Social Democratic Party's drive to curb the prosecutors' powers and has accused the Anti-Corruption Directorate of abuse.

He is also known for his strident attacks on alleged foreign interference in Romania's domestic affairs.

Officials in Brussels and foreign diplomats during the past two years have regularly criticised the Romanian government, accusing it of undermining the...