Spying Charges Raise Tensions in Romanian Election

The temperature of Romania's Presidential election moved up a notch on Monday night after the incumbent head of state, Traian Basescu, dramatically accused the Prime Minister, Victor Ponta, of having worked an undercover intelligence agent.

Ponta is the main contender to succeed Basescu in presidential elections scheduled for next month - and the accusation was clearly intended to undermine his campaign.

"Victor Ponta has to admit being an undercover officer for the Foreign Intelligence Agency [SIE] between 1997 and 2001. I have clear evidence of this and am ready to prove my words," Basescu told a TV station.

Basescu's statement was not a complete surprise as last month he suggested that one of the candidates running in the presidential elections was an undercover spy as well as a public servant. However, he did not name anyone at the time.

Ponta was a prosecutor between 1997 and 2001, and the law of the time forbade law officers from working as undercover intelligence officers.

Ponta on Tuesday denied what he called "lies and defamation.

"During my time as a prosecutor, a politician and now as Prime Minister I have only served my country. And will continue to do this," he said.

Ponta's centre-left government and the President have a long history of disputes, which culminated in a failed referendum on the impeachment of Basescu in July 2012.

The President's accusation has divided the experts. "Basescu is trying to show how much of Romania's political life seems to be manipulated by the intelligence services," journalist Catalin Tolontan said.

However, Radu Tudor, another journalist, said the President was playing a murky political game of his own.

"Basescu is breaking the law and risking Roman...