Romania's Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Sunday called corruption allegations against him tantamount to a "coup d'etat" and again vowed he would not resign.
"The goal of these accusations is to prompt a change of government," Ponta said, adding that a criminal case against him would bypass parliament making it "equivalent to a coup d'etat".
The powerful DNA anti-corruption prosecutors announced Friday that they had launched a probe into the social democrat premier over suspected money laundering, tax evasion and conflict of interest.
Prosecutors are targeting his activities from 2007-2011 when he was working as a lawyer and a lawmaker.
Parliament would have to strip the premier of his immunity for the probe to proceed. DNA prosecutors said in a statement Friday they were filing a formal request with the legislature for an investigation.
Ponta, speaking after a meeting Sunday of the centre-left coalition he leads, denied the allegations against him.
"I will prove my innocence and I am working to improve the justice system in order to prevent it from committing further abuses," said Ponta.
He has already rejected a call to resign from conservative President Klaus Iohannis, who beat the prime minister in November's presidential election.
"Only parliament can unseat me," Ponta said on Facebook.
"I have a duty to the 5.3 million Romanians who voted for me," the prime minister said Sunday.
Ponta is to be interviewed Monday by a legal commission that will then advise parliament on whether to allow the graft probe to proceed.
If parliament rejects the prosecutors' request, which seems likely given the centre-left's large majority, the case could continue solely for allegations stemming from his work as a lawyer and not a lawmaker, DNA said.
Ponta cannot be suspended from his role as premier unless the criminal prosecution targets his activities while in public office.
Romania’s Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Sunday called corruption allegations against him tantamount to a “coup d’etat” and again vowed he would not resign.
“The goal of these accusations is to prompt a change of government,” Ponta said, adding that a criminal case against him would bypass parliament making it “equivalent to a coup d’etat”.
The powerful DNA anti-corruption prosecutors announced Friday that they had launched a probe into the social democrat premier over suspected money laundering, tax evasion and conflict of interest.
Prosecutors are targeting his activities from 2007-2011 when he was working as a lawyer and a lawmaker.
Parliament would have to strip the premier of his immunity for the probe to proceed. DNA prosecutors said in a statement Friday they were filing a formal request with the legislature for an investigation.
Ponta, speaking after a meeting Sunday of the centre-left coalition he leads, denied the allegations against him.
“I will prove my innocence and I am working to improve the justice system in order to prevent it from committing further abuses,” said Ponta.
He has already rejected a call to resign from conservative President Klaus Iohannis, who beat the prime minister in November’s presidential election.
“Only parliament can unseat me,” Ponta said on Facebook.
“I have a duty to the 5.3 million Romanians who voted for me,” the prime minister said Sunday.
Ponta is to be interviewed Monday by a legal commission that will then advise parliament on whether to allow the graft probe to proceed.
If parliament rejects the prosecutors’ request, which seems likely given the centre-left’s large majority, the case could continue solely for allegations stemming from his work as a lawyer and not a lawmaker, DNA said.
Ponta cannot be suspended from his role as premier unless the criminal prosecution targets his activities while in public office.
