Romania’s most powerful politician, sentenced to jail for corruption

Liviu Dragnea, Romania’s de facto leader was sent to prison for three-and-a-half years for corruption.

The guilty verdict against ruling-party leader Dragnea for abuse of office was upheld Monday by the Supreme Court, adding to a previous vote-rigging conviction that carried a suspended jail term.

Dragnea, who is also speaker of the lower house of parliament, appealed the initial verdict last year. Monday’s conviction is final.

It was the third blow to his Social Democrats in two days after an unexpected defeat in Sunday’s European Parliament elections and a referendum that will block part of its efforts to overhaul the justice system.

The Party of European Socialists (PES) has frozen its relations with the PSD over rule of law concerns and a decision on PSD’s continuing membership of the group is expected at a congress in June.

Via Euronews