Romania's suspended president accused of using EUR 1 mln public funds to refurbish luxury mansion

A luxurious residence, allegedly kitted out for suspended president Traian Basescu, has become the center of a fresh round of scandal and dirty politics in Romania. PM Victor Ponta and the Social Liberal Union (USL) accuse Basescu of investing EUR 1 million in the Villa Dante between 2010 and 2011, a time when harsh austerity measures meant misery for millions of Romanians. The news broke just days before the presidential impeachment referendum on July 29.

USL MP Eugen Nicolaescu said yesterday ( July 26 ) that Basescu had “pharaonic delusions” referring to the luxury and grandeur on display in the mansion. The USL discovered the villa upgrade when trying to organize a meeting with EU states ambassadors in Bucharest. "This is the richest villa I have ever seen. The protection services told me this was the president's villa and that he comes there to swim in the pool and for other activities, having moved there his fitness and Jacuzzi equipment from his home. I have seen many sumptuous houses, but this is by far the most sumptuous I have ever seen. Workers told me Basescu came there himself to choose the furniture and the flooring," said Prime Minister Ponta. "The president is now lying about not sleeping at night (over the crisis, e.n). I think he should not be sleeping at night because he used public money for such a house," the PM went on. He also said that Basescu's 'Live Well' campaign slogan certainly applies at the Villa Dante. He PM was the one who took journalists to the villa and offered them the opportunity to take pictures of it. The suspended president has responded by calling for the USL to present hard evidence of wrongdoing in the Villa Dante affair. He also said he would repay the money invested if any irregularities were proved and that Romanians should vote to impeach in the referendum if he is proved guilty of impropriety in the affair. Traian Basescu's spokesman Bogdan Oprea said this was a diversion and that the suspended president never asked for revamping the villa. In Romania, the state covers the accommodation needs for former Presidents. If Basescu will be impeached, he not be allowed to live in this villa, but if he will end his mandate at the due date, he will legally have the right to live in it, said the PM, who is currently on a campaign, trying to convince Romanians to impeach the president. The Dante Villa, on the banks of the Herastrau lake, covers some 1,300 sqm and the additional plot has 1,500 sqm. editor@romania-insider.com (photo source: print screen RTV)