Lower Chamber Chairman Delegates Powers to Deputy

The decision was published in Romania’s Official Journal but further details were unclear as of Monday afternoon, as its online version linked to a blank page.

Lower Chamber Deputy Chairman Florin Iordache confirmed for MEDIAFAX on Monday that the attributions of the chamber’s chairman were delegated to him, but did not wish to specify for how long.

Dragnea, who is also the chairman of the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD), was hospitalized due to back pain on Sunday. PSD secretary-general Codrin Stefancescu announced that the social democrat leader has a double hernia and cervical problems, and that doctors would decide on Monday if he will be subjected to surgery.

This comes as the PSD leader was also supposed to attend a subpoena at the Supreme Court on Monday, regarding his appeal against a prison sentence he received in a case regarding fictitious hiring at a state agency.