Romania's governing party leadership announces "full support" for ministers involved in corruption case

The leadership of Romania’s governing Social Democrats (PSD) announced on Monday they would provide „full support” for ministers Sevil Shhaideh and Rovana Plumb, eyed by prosecutors in a new corruption case.

The whip of the PSD in the House of Deputies said on Monday that the leadership heard the points of view of the two ministers and found the two „fully complied with the law and consider themselves innocent”. That meant „the final decision [of the party leadership] was to give them full support” and „ask them not to resign”.

The two are eyed by National Anti-Corruption Department (DNA) investigators in a new graft case involving the passage of an island in South Romania from the state administration to the administration of local authorities, then a series of companies. The case is seen as closely related to the interests of PSD leader Liviu Dragnea, who on Sunday had said „he would not step back” and that he saw himself as a target of the investigation.