Update: Senate law committee OKs waiving the immunity of Speaker Tariceanu. Ruling coalition was close to break up

The Senate’s law committee has approved, Wednesday morning, the request for waiving the immunity of Speaker Calin Popescu Tariceanu, so that the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) may start the prosecution.

The information was delivered by the committee’s chairman, PSD Senator Titus Corlatean, ziare.com reports.

The DNA request on waving Tariceanu’s immunity had been submitted to the law committee in November 2018.

The prosecutors argue that the ALDE leader received, indirectly, during 2007-2008, when having the position of Prime Minister, material benefits of about USD 800,000 from an Austrian company.

Since then, the Standing Bureau repeatedly decided to extend the deadline for the committee’s report regarding the DNA request, claiming time is needed for the Senators to analyse the file.

Tariceanu wanted to break up the coalition

The PSD-ALDE ruling coalition was close to breaking up on Wednesday, because ALDE refused to vote in favour of Marcel Ciolacu for the position of Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, the common candidate.

Tariceanu was mad, PSD source quoted by digi24.ro say, of the vote in the legal committee to waive his immunity, although he has been promised a postponement. It seems committee chairman Robert Cazanciuc (photo 2) summoned the sitting and requested an emergency vote Wednesday morning.

Tariceanu allegedly suspected PSD ordered Cazanciuc do to so, but it seems Cazanciuc was mad for not being nominated to take over the office of Justice Minister. PSD nominated Ana Birchall for the office Tuesday evening.

The conflict has been played down by PM Viorica Dancila, who went to parliament for talks with the ALDE leader. Dancila said, after the meeting, there are no problems within the coalition.

“We will stand united. We’ve talked about the vote for the Chamber’s Speaker position, we’ll see the results after the vote,” Dancila said, being assured to receive support from ALDE for Marcel Ciolacu.

PSD senators’ leader vows to support Tariceanu

Serban Nicolae, leader of PSD senators, says the PSD will not vote in the plenary sitting in favour of waiving the immunity for Tariceanu.

“I don’t believe any social-democrat, any colleague of mine, has changed his opinion and has reached the conclusion we have to support the abuses that paralyzed Romania for so long,” Serban Nicolae said on Wednesday, after having talks with Calin Popescu Tariceanu.