Former minister Dragnea says resignation from executive chairmanship would hurt Social Democrat Party

Former minister Liviu Dragnea, sentenced to a one-year suspended prison term on Friday, says his resignation from the position of executive chair of the Social Democrat Party (PSD) would leave it exposed in a pre-election year, just when it needs to prepare for the local elections of 2016.

Photo credit: (c) Alex MICSIK / AGERPRES PHOTO
Dragnea, who already resigned from the ministry of administration, told Antena 3 TV on Sunday that many PSD county chapters asked him to keep his party office, either by communiques and resolutions or by direct phone calls and text messages to Prime Minister Victor Ponta, asking the rejection of a possible retirement.

He admitted he was very much hurt by the sentence and insisted he was not guilty of the charges of fraud in a 2012 referendum to oust former President Traian Basescu; he should announce on Monday his decision concerning the executive chairmanship of the PSD.AGERPRES