Cluj deputy mayor Horvath Anna to file resignation over criminal charges

Deputy mayor of Cluj-Napoca, Horvath Anna, currently under judicial control for influence peddling, on Thursday announced she would resign from office. In a press conference the deputy mayor, member of the Democrat Magyar Union in Romania (UDMR), said she would keep on fighting in court till justice is served.

“There are five months since I have been under judicial control and the interdiction to exert my deputy mayor duties has come into force. I have been on unpaid leave for the past 5 months, so I had no income. I shall file my resignation on the first sitting of the Local County. I have done my job and exerted my duties as I have sworn in, observing the Constitution and the country’s laws (….)” Horvath said.

She will continue the public administration activity as local councilor on UDMR’s behalf.

Attending the press conference UDMR chairman Kelemen Hunor stated in his turn that there is no argument that Horvath Anna should not be allowed to continue activity as deputy mayor, adding that her blot is eyed.

The anti-corruption officers in Cluj placed her under judicial control after several searches at the Cluj City Hall and at her place on October 10, 2016, over suspicions on electoral campaign money irregularities for last year’s local elections.

Three days later, on October 13 Horvath Anna announced she would take unpaid leave during those 60 days of judicial control. Later on, she challenged the judicial control measure in court, including to the Supreme Court (ICCJ), but her actions have been overruled.

Horvath Anna has been deputy mayor of Cluj-Napoca since 2012.