The social Democrat Liviu Dragnea is considered to be one of the most powerful politicians in Romania. Now he has to several years in prison because he had found two women, a certificate of employment. The 56-Year-old denies the charges.

A court of appeal in Romania has confirmed the prison sentence for the party chief of the ruling social Democrats in a mock employment affair. The Supreme court in Bucharest rejected the appeal of Liviu Dragnea.

The influential PSD-in-chief must now report within 24 hours to the police, his three and a half year prison sentence to compete. The 56-Year-old himself spoke of conspiracies and “unimaginable pressure” had been exerted on the judges.

Dragnea was convicted in June of 2018 to three and a half years in prison because he has two women who worked for his party, at the city Council in his constituency had gained. According to the indictment, they received salary without having to work in the authority. The certificate of employment of the allegations relate to the years 2006 to 2012. The 56-Year-old denies the charges. In the appeal judgment, he was not present.

socialists, punished

Dragnea is considered to be the most powerful politician in the South-East European EU country, and a key figure behind the controversial justice reform in Romania. He was the driving force of the EU, criticized the weakening of the anti-corruption campaign.

In Europe the election campaign played the debate about the reform of the judiciary a major role. The social Democrats suffered in the election of significant loss – they came to about 23 percent. The liberal-conservative party PNL and the Alliance USR, PLUS picked up a total of around 48 percent. According to observers, the PSD was punished because of the actions Dragneas against the Anti-corruption authority in the country.