Romania Court Acquits Liberal Leader of Seeking Bribes

Romania's Supreme Court on Monday acquitted opposition National Liberal Party leader Ludovic Orban in a graft trial that had lasted almost two years. The ruling is final.

Orban was accused of requesting 50,000 euros from a businessman during the campaign for the local elections in 2016, while he was running for the post of Bucharest mayor.

He was placed under investigation in April 2016 and withdrew from the race immediately, leaving the National Liberals, the biggest opposition party, struggling to find a new candidate only two months before the elections.

Many National Liberal Party members, including mayors and several former ministers, have been sentenced for graft in recent years.

Orban was elected president of the National Liberal Party in June 2017. 

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