Romania Lifts Immunity of Ex-Minister Oprea

Romanian Senators have decided with 102 votes in favour and only 30 against to lift the immunity of MP Gabriel Oprea, the former interior minister, so he can face a criminal inquiry over his use of motorcades.

While denying wrongdoing, Oprea himself voted in favour of lifting his own immunity from prosecution.

Prosecutors said he used motorcades roughly five times on average a day from January 2014 through to November 2015, for official business, private visits, party meetings and even for travelling to restaurants.

By law, the President, Prime Minister and the two speakers of parliament are entitled to a police escort in traffic, while other senior officials are allowed escorts in special situations.

Oprea's use of police escorts and outriders came to light last October, when a police officer died after riding over a pothole while accompanying Oprea's motorcade.

For several days, the police and the Interior Ministry withheld information about the deadly accident.

Oprea said he was unaware that the policeman had been killed while accompanying his motorcade and insisted that he had not broken any law.

He resigned in November, alongside with Prime Minister Victor Ponta, following mass protests over a deadly nightclub fire that killed 63 people.

In related development, General Prosecutor Tiberiu Nitu resigned on Tuesday, after his name appeared in the same investigation carried out by the National Anticorruption Directorate, DNA, over the illegal use of official motorcades.

Romania is still considered one of the most corrupt states in the European Union and has made only limited progress in fighting corruption and organised crime since it joined the EU in 2007.

But in recent years...