The Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) has notified the General Prosecutor’s Office on eight candidates running for Presidency, claiming they had filed signatures that have similarities. Among those candidates referred to the prosecutors there are Alexandru Cumpănașu, Catalin Ivan and Viorel Cataramă.
According to a BEC press release, the following candidates had filed lists with signatures that presented obvious similarities although they were presented as belonging to different people: Viorel Cataramă (Liberal Wing Party), Miron Cozma (independent candidate), Maria Minea, Cătălin Sorin Ivan (The Party Alternative for National Dignity), Sebastian Constantin Popescu (New Romania Party), Alexandru Cumpănașu (independent candidate), Ninel Peia (Romanian National Party) and Bobby George Marius Pănescu (independent candidate).
BEC reminds that a ruling by the Constitutional Court says that “a signature on the list of supporters can fall under the Criminal Code provisions for forgery”.
Klaus Iohannis, Viorica Dancila, Theodor Paleologu, Dan Barna, Kelemen Hunor and Mircea Diaconu had their candidatures validated.
In retort, Viorel Cataramă announced he will file a criminal complaint against BEC for abuse of office and that he will sue the president of the Permanent Electoral Authority. A former Liberal, Cataramă will also notify the National Council for Combating Discrimination.
“I will file a criminal complaint against BEC for not complying with a final ruling, for abuse of office and for misleading the judicial bodies. I will sue Mr. Florin Buică, AEP President, for his public statements that caused serious damages to me in the electoral campaign. I will notify CNCD for being discriminated by institutions of the Romanian state“, Cataramă said.
Alexandru Cumpănaşu has also announced he will notify the General Prosecutor’s Office to check the signatures filed by other candidates such as Klaus Iohannis and Dan Barna, claiming BEC has found out obvious similarities among the signatures they had also filed, accusing the institution of playing dirty.