Lower Chamber Chairman Says President Was Behind Attempt To Dismiss Him

“They want to take the Parliament and Romania by force. This is Iohannis’ style, just as he took those houses in Sibiu (reference to a civil lawsuit involving the president, ed.), that’s how he wants to take over institutions which bother him. Nothing happens without the coordination of Klaus Iohannis,” said Dragnea.

The social-democrat leader also alleged that, in the confusion started during Wednesday’s meeting, a liberal MP proposed meeting chair Florin Iordache to leave his seat at the presidium and answer a phone call from the president.

Wednesday’s Lower Chamber meeting was marked by controversy, as the ruling coalition and opposition MPs clashed for several hours over efforts by the latter to dismiss the chamber’s chairman, Liviu Dragnea, and deputy chairman Florin Iordache.

Liberal Party (PNL) group leader Raluca Turcan proposed a vote for the dismissal of both Dragnea and Iordache, stating that the ruling coalition had lost the majority in the chamber.

Her request was rejected by deputy chairman Florin Iordache, who presided the meeting, on the basis that chamber regulations state that such requests can only be filed by the chairman’s parliamentary group.

Opposition MPs argued however that a 2012 Constitutional Court decision makes a vote mandatory in cases where the political majority is uncertain.

Opposition leader later stated that the two Lower Chamber leader were actually dismissed during Wednesday’s plenary meeting, after a vote on the matter, rejected by the meeting’s chair, was held with raised hands.