French FM slams Romanian ruling coalition

In a recent  address before the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in the French Senate, the French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian has slammed the situation in eastern Europe, also referring to Romania’s ruling coalition and Social Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea.

„The evolution is concerning in Romania (…) Since it rose to power, the PSD-ALDE coalition has never ceased from hindering the judiciary procedures that target the political class. No later than last week, the PSD chairman and speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Liviu Dragnea, was sentenced to three years and a half years in prison for instigation to abuse of office in an affair of fictitious jobs,” FM Le Drian told French senators, as quoted by RFI radio.

„Another concern is related to the procedure of dismissing the anti-corruption chief prosecutor, Laura Codruta Kovesi. President Klaus Iohannis-whom I have recently met on the occasion of my recent visit to Bucharest- is forced by the Constitutional Court to recall her from office. Despite these, the head of state is totally opposing the procedure initiated by the Parliament speaker, Mr. Liviu Dragnea, ” France’s foreign minister added.

„We have to maintain dialogue with these states, but at the same time we must remain firm on our principles. The EU membership is not providing only rights, but duties as well,” Jean-Yves Le Drian concluded.