Will Iulian Dumitrescu be supported by PNL and PSD for the leadership of CJ Prahova, despite the multiple bribery accusations he faces?
PNL Prahova announced on Wednesday evening that the county branch has decided to support Iulian Dumitrescu, even though he is under investigation for corruption in a case where his sister and her husband are also being charged.
But here's what the PNL leader, Nicolae Ciucă, and the PSD president, Marcel Ciolacu, have to say.
Nicolae Ciucă was asked on Thursday about the fact that 60 mayors support Iulian Dumitrescu for a new term as head of CJ Prahova.
"Today we have not validated the candidates at the Prahova branch, so as we did for the other 21 branches and the two sectors of Bucharest, we will proceed with an analysis of each branch and each candidate individually," vaguely stated the PNL president.
He was asked once more if the central leadership of PNL supports Iulian Dumitrescu for a new term at CJ Prahova.
"First of all, you know very well that the proposal must come from the branch. And at the political leadership level, there are other analysis elements that we will consider and take into account when making decisions," Ciucă evaded.
Marcel Ciolacu, in turn, categorically announced that neither he nor the social democrats support a candidacy of the liberal Iulian Dumitrescu for the leadership of CJ Prahova.
"I do not support Mr. Iulian Dumitrescu, nor does the PSD. PSD will not support Iulian Dumitrescu. PSD has its own candidate in Mr. Nanu (Virgiliu Daniel Nanu, president of PSD Prahova and prefect of Prahova County - ed.) for the leadership of Prahova County, and will win the leadership of the County Council," stated Marcel Ciolacu.
PNL Prahova supports him for the unprecedented performance
PNL Prahova stated in a press release issued on Wednesday evening that "among the arguments of the local elected officials supporting the candidacy of Iulian Dumitrescu are his unprecedented performance in attracting European funds," as well as the fact that under his leadership, "works have been started on the bypass roads of Comarnic, Azuga-Buşteni, Păuleşti, Mizil, and Câmpina," and investments have been made in dozens of localities in the county, as well as in the Ploieşti County Hospital.
"These are important and major projects that have never existed since the Revolution. For all of them, we have worked hard and together, as a team. They were possible thanks to good and efficient collaboration between the local administrative units and the County Council led by Iulian Dumitrescu. At this point, Prahova cannot afford administrative experiments, and the costs of blockages are absolutely enormous. Our county needs continuity," the open letter of the PNL mayors in Prahova states.
According to the signatories of the letter, Iulian Dumitrescu is "the guarantee that the projects started will be completed and that the localities of Prahova will continue to develop and prosper," the PNL Prahova press release further states.
Iulian Dumitrescu, former president of PNL Prahova and former vice-president of PNL, is suspected that, assisted by his brother-in-law, Daniel Lambrea, he would have demanded, in the period of November-December 2022, a businessman to acquire, in exchange for the amount of 47,500,000 lei, the social parts held by Daniel Lambrea in a commercial company, a value overestimated compared to their real value, in connection with the performance of duties as president of CJ Prahova, and would have received, until December 4, 2023, with the help of the two accomplices, a total amount of 16,210,000 lei.
The President of CJ Prahova is also suspected of failing to declare, in three of the asset statements he completed, significant amounts of money that would have been predominantly spent on trips abroad and luxury goods purchased from outside the country, private high school, tennis courses, rent in a luxury residential complex.