Romania’s Craiova mayor plans to run for another term despite corruption investigation

Lia Olguta Vasilescu, the current mayor of Craiova and a vice president of the Social Democratic Party PSD, wants to run for a new term as mayor of Craiova although she is investigated for alleged bribery. “Of course, I will run for mayor of Craiova. Maybe they’ll start another 20 cases against me, but the important thing is to find a fair judge. I believe that there should also be courageous people in this country,” she said at local TV station Romania TV. The TV channel is controlled by Romanian deputy Sebastian Ghita, a former PSD member, who is also investigated in several corruption cases. Lia Olguta Vasilescu was arrested on March 30 by prosecutors of the National Anticorruption Department DNA, and placed under house arrest the next day, following a ruling by the Bucharest Court. The prosecutors charged her with bribery, influence peddling, and money laundering. She is accused of having convinced several business people to sponsor her during the campaign for the local elections for mayor of Craiova, in 2012. However, the Bucharest Court of Appeal admitted her appeal on Wednesday, April 6, and removed the house arrest measure against her. Lia Olguta Vasilescu's arrest has produced many reactions in local politics. Former tourism minister Elena Udrea, who has also spent time in arrest and has been investigated in several corruption cases, was the first to jump and defend the Craiova mayor, after seing her in handcuffs. PSD's leader Liviu Dragnea said that many of his colleagues were deeply affected after seing one of their party's leaders arrested. Dragnea himself has a probation sentence (not final) in a case of electoral fraud and is currently investigated in another case of abuse of office that targets his ex-wife Bombonica Prodanca. Gabrila Firea, PSD's candidate for the Bucharest mayor, said that PSD would continue to support Lia Olguta Vasilescu and that it would be an honor for the party if shedecided to run again for mayor of Craiova. Romania will organize local elections on June 5 this year. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com