​Romanian Opposition in united front in Parliament against US State Dept-related statement by governing coalition leaders

Representatives of Romanian opposition parties PNL, PMP and USR took the floor in the House of Deputies on Wednesday to challenge the statement made Tuesday by House speaker Liviu Dragnea and Senate speaker Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, the leaders of the governing PSD-ALDE coalition, dismissing the US State Department urge that the Romanian Parliament drop planned changes to the laws of the judiciary.

Dragnea, leader of the governing Social Democrats (PSD), was accused of disciplinary misconduct because this statement has not complied with parliamentary procedures. Liberal (PNL) deputy leader Raluca Turcan asked for Dragnea’s resignation, as did PMP deputy Robert Turcescu. Liviu Dragnea was not present at the plenary session, which was led by Florin Iordache, vice-speaker of the House.

Turcan said that as a group leader she did not support the position of Liviu Dragnea and Calin Popescu Tariceanu, who in their reply to the Department of State claimed to speak in the name of the Romanian Parliament.

Many members accused that the rules of the Parliament were violated, since such a statement should have been discussed in joint sitting.