Dan Sova

Romania's former prime minister, Victor Ponta, is returning to the front lines of the country's political scene after being acquitted of corruption charges at the beginning of May. His new faction, Pro Romania, has also started recruiting prominent Social Democrat MPs, much to the concern of the ruling party leadership.

Recent Romanian Supreme Court rulings that acquitted several high-ranking politicians in some of the country's most notorious graft cases risk damaging prosecutors' credibility - at a time when they are battling political moves to limit their independence, analysts warn.

Romania's Supreme Court on Thursday acquitted former Social Democrat Prime Minister Victor Ponta of corruption in one of the country's most high-profile graft trials and after postponing a ruling five times. The ruling can be appealed.

The Romanian President and opposition parties have urged Prime Minister Victor Ponta to resign after he was indicted for a range of crimes for which he will now have to stand trial.

Romania's anti-corruption prosecutors' office, DNA, on Thursday announced that Prime Minister Victor Ponta has been formally indicted for forgery, complicity with tax evasion and money laundering and will stand trial.

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

Romania's embattled Prime Minister, Victor Ponta, on Wednesday again said he would not resign as a result of corruption allegations and will stay on as long as the ruling coalition supports him.

Romania's anti-corruption directorate, DNA, on Monday indicted Prime Minister and Social Democreatic Party leader Victor Ponta with forgery, being an accessory to tax evasion and money laundering. They also seized some of Ponta's assets.

The accusations relate to Ponta's previous activity as a lawyer for a law firm owned by a former minister, Dan Sova, a close friend of his.

Romania's Prime Minister Victor Ponta resigned on July 12 as head of the Social Democrat party as he battles corruption charges that have prompted calls for him to step down as government leader.

Ponta has been under investigation since last month for money laundering and tax evasion, but has refused to resign his post as premier citing his duty "to millions of Romanians."    

Gabriel Oprea is Romania's interim PMFoto: Wikipedia.com

Gabriel Oprea, 54, is temporarily replacing Victor Ponta, who is recovering from knee surgery in a Turkish clinic.

Ponta announced on Sunday that he is asking President Klaus Iohannis for leave of "up to 45 days" as permitted by the Romanian constitution.

The leave follows surgery on Ponta's knee last week in Turkey. He left hospital on Sunday but said he needs weeks to recuperate.