Romanian Democrat Liberals Keep Stance On Youth Minister’s Case Unchanged - VP

Romania’s Democratic Liberal Party, in the government coalition, did not change its stance on fellow member, youth minister Monica Iacob Ridzi, who is accused of mishandling state funds, democrat liberal vice-president Gheorghe Flutur said Monday.

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The party “will not shield any member, including Mrs. Ridzi,” Flutur said at the end of a meeting of the Standing Bureau.

The party’s official stand is that it will not oppose a potential prosecution of Ridzi, who would be immediately dismissed by the prime minister, Flutur added.

On the other hand, no one in the party has asked for Ridzi’s resignation, nor for her dismissal, Flutur mentioned.

Romanian youth and sports minister Monica Ridzi said last week that she will resign if prosecutors decide they have a case against her, following allegations of fund misappropriation.

“I will certainly resign if prosecution proceedings are launched. I will not run from the responsibility and I don’t intend to hide, as other politicians do,” Ridzi said after a hearing before a parliament inquiry committee.

The Chamber of Deputies decided to set up an inquiry committee to probe allegations of fund misappropriation against Ridzi.

The allegations of fund misappropriation were forwarded by liberal MPs, in opposition, who claimed Ridzi mishandled money allocated for organizing the celebrations on Youth Day.

The inquiry committee will look into the way the money was spent.

During a television show on Sunday, Ridzi said however that that resigning would be “cowardly” and that she wants to see if her subordinates made a mistake, because she will not be responsible for anyone’s mistake.

Ridzi said she has doubts about the way the contracts for the Youth Day festivities were awarded and that at times she had the feeling she “had been cheated.” She said a Ministry audit of the contracts will be completed next week.

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