Beleaguered Prime Minister Florin Citu on Thursday insisted he enjoyed the support of President Klaus Iohannis despite a drunk-driving conviction 21 years ago.
Mr Citu said he had discussed the episode with Iohannis and “there was no reproach,” he said.
Jail
The prime minister, 49, spent two days in jail in Iowa in 2000 where he was studying at the time. He paid a $1,000 fine for the offense.
It is thought that Liberal Party leader Ludovic Orban or someone in his camp leaked a document to try and compromise the prime minister, according to sources.
Mr Orban faces a stiff party leadership challenge next month from Mr Citu, a former banker. Mr Citu was thought to be the favorite before the leak.
Reformist wing
The prime minister who is from the reformist wing of the Liberal Party appears to enjoy the support of the president.
The president invited the him to attend Marine Day celebrations on August 15 at the Black Sea. The two appeared relaxed together, apparently enjoying each other’s company.
Mr Citu added that the Romanian president “was a source of inspiration for me. After many years, the president changed the image of what a president was as well as the way of doing politics,” he said.
Leadership race
Mr Citu still appears to be the favorite in the leadership race next month despite the revelations.
Dozens of party leaders and mayor on Tuesday signed a letter reproaching Mr Orban for “his lack of fair-play and harmful statements for the party.”
“This is dishonorable for the Liberal Party chairman to ”support a public lynching against the Liberal prime minister.”
Barbed remarks
He had barbed remarks for Mr Orban, the former prime minister he is facing off in a leadership challenge next month.
“Mr Orban has chosen to exit politics via the back door,” the prime minister said.
Political tensions rise in Romania over PM’s 21-year-old drunk-driving conviction
