Romanian Finance minister Darius Valcov accused of taking EUR 2 mln. bribe when he served as mayor

Romanian anti-graft prosecutors have launched a criminal inquiry against Romanian Finance minister Darius Valcov under charges of traffic of influence, while he is suspected of having taking bribes to favor a businessman. National Anti-corruption Department prosecutors accuse him of having received some EUR 2 million when he served as mayor of Slatina city in 2010-2013.

Valcov went through DNA hearings late on Friday. On his departure from the DNA, he refused to make any statements, but said he was not facing charges related to taking bribes.

Darius Valcov served as mayor of Slatina city twice, between 2004-2012. In March 2012, he resigned from the party who had governed for several years until then, the Democratic Liberals, and was dismissed as Slatina mayor at a prefect’s orders. He was re-elected in office in June 2012. In December that year, he was elected senator for the now-governing Social Democrats. He’s been serving as Finance minister since December, after several months of serving as a minister in charge with the budget.