Prosecutors in Ialomiţia, southern Romania, have initiated a criminal case against the far-right AUR party for allegedly corrupting voters by offering them free medical consultations in a caravan.
Under the country’s Criminal Code, offering money, goods, or other benefits to influence voters in favour of or against a specific list of candidates or a particular candidate is punishable by imprisonment ranging from six months to three years, along with the prohibition of certain rights.
After launching the case at the end of 2023, prosecutors asked parliament on Tuesday to confirm the parliamentary status of several party leaders, including AUR party President George Simion and Senator Claudiu Târziu. This request is purely procedural.
The medical caravan launched by AUR provides free healthcare services in communities lacking such facilities, especially in rural areas. Citizens can register on a website to benefit from free consultations the party offers.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Electoral Authority has initiated its own investigation into AUR’s alleged misuse of public funds, G4Media reported.
Simion responded to the case on social media, alleging that its purpose was politically motivated.
“No good deed goes unpunished. At the beginning of this year, they made it clear that they aim to eliminate us, orchestrate criminal cases against us, and stage various scenarios”, Simion said, attributing the prosecutors’ actions to an “order” from Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.
However, the prime minister has yet to respond to the accusation.
REPER member and Renew MEP Ramona Strugariu reproached the AUR leaders for not supporting “any reform or public policy proposal in the matter of health, which would support Romanian patients in the Parliament”.
(Cătălina Mihai | Euractiv.ro)
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Source: euractiv.com
