US Embassy: Parliamentary immunity shouldn't be used for blocking legal procedures

The Embassy of the United States of America in Bucharest in a new clarification on Tuesday says that parliamentary immunity shouldn't be used for blocking the legal procedures.

We don't comment upon individual cases. The law must be equally enforced for everyone. Parliamentary immunity shouldn't be used for blocking legal procedures, the US Embassy shows.

Any accusations against government officials on breaking the law must be thoroughly and without interferences investigated and the law must be equally enforced for everybody, the US Embassy in Bucharest pointed out on Tuesday morning in the context of the voting in the Deputies' Chamber on the request for the approval to open a criminal investigation against Prime Minister Victor Ponta.

In a press release sent to AGERPRES, the Embassy underscored however that it doesn't comment upon individual cases.

The legal and the rule of law institutions must be able to conduct their activity in a completely independent manner and both the Romanian legislation and the principle of a fair trial must be thoroughly observed, the cited source also showed.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Tuesday said totally agreed with the message sent by the US Embassy in Romania.

"I totally agree. Aren't we all equal?," Victor Ponta said upon exiting the Deputies' Chamber plenary sitting.

The Deputies' Chamber in a plenary sitting on Tuesday approved the decision to reject the opening of a criminal investigation procedure against Prime Minister Victor Ponta by 231 votes to 120. AGERPRES