‘Referendum was rigged’

Published on 8 October 2013 at 11:01

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On October 7, the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) filed charges against Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Development Liviu Dragnea, of the Social Democratic Party, as well as 74 other people, who are accused of rigging the July 29, 2012 referendum on the impeachment of conservative President Traian Băsescu.

According to Evenimentul Zilei, Dragnea, who has refused to resign, is alleged to have “made use of his authority and influence to design a nationwide system for electoral fraud in a bid to ensure the 60 per cent turnout required for the vote to be valid.”

On the same day, adds the daily, the mMnister for the economy, liberal Varujan Vosganian, resigned. The DNA suspects him of having colluded with a private company, which obtained gas from the state-owned company Romgaz at a favourable price between 2008 and 2010.

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