Romanian Ruling Party Lends Backing to Ponta

The leadership of the ruling Social Democratic Party, PSD, is to meet on Monday to discuss the situation facing the Prime Minister, Victor Ponta, a PSD member, who was accused of corruption last week and faces trial.

"We have to analyse the current situation. My opinion is that Victor Ponta will continue to have the support of the party," the PSD interim President, Liviu Dragnea, said on Saturday.

Reports suggest that the ruling coalition, comprising the Social Democrats and two centre-left junior parties, will back Ponta for now to stay on as head of the government.

But Dragnea did not exclude the option that the PSD will support another member of the ruling party for the PM's position if Ponta resigns.

"For now, we don't have a potential successor, as we hope that Ponta will want to remain in power. But any future new PM will belong to the PSD," Dragnea added.

Opposition parties - which already asked Ponta to resign - on Monday will file a no-confidence vote against the Prime Minister. The motion will likely be debated on September. 29.

For now, Ponta has not shown any intention to resign. He has also said he is ready to face a trial to prove his innocence. In a message on Facebook, Ponta recalled that he had pledged to remain in power as long the ruling coalition backed him.

Romania's anti-corruption office, DNA, on Thursday announced that it was indicting Ponta for forgery, complicity with tax evasion and money laundering and said he will stand trial.

The Supreme Court has scheduled Ponta's preliminary hearings in the trial for Monday.

Ponta, who became Prime Minister in 2012, allegedly committed the crimes from 2007 through 2011 while working as a lawyer, the DNA added.

The accusations relate to his...