Romanian Social Democrats To Boycott Lower Chamber Until Speaker Steps Down – Party Leader

The social democrats also want the reexamination of the pension bill in Parliament to target more articles than the ones pointed to by President Basescu. However, Ponta said his party will not attend this reexamination, or debates on other bills until Anastase steps down or is replaced as chamber speaker.

„We cannot be an accessory or legitimize the fraud committed by Mrs. Anastase. The activity of a chamber of Parliament is blocked only by the complicity and the shield [the Democratic Liberal Party] has created, the same as in the Ridzi case, around a person proven to the public to have defrauded an essential vote,” said Ponta, referring to former democrat liberal minister Monica Iacob-Ridzi, who was charged with abuse of office and fund misappropriation last year, but has not been prosecuted.

The Chamber of Deputies’ activity is being boycotted by members of the opposition Social Democratic Party and Liberal Party, who refuse to attend the meetings of the Standing Bureau and committees in protest to the vote on the pension bill, which they allege has been „rigged” by Anastase.