Ciprian Ciucu withdraws from PNL leadership race after DNA opens bribery case against him
Bucharest mayor Ciprian Ciucu announced he will not seek the post of first vice-president of the National Liberal Party at Sunday's extraordinary congress, citing a criminal investigation launched by the anti-corruption agency earlier this week.
The withdrawal
Ciprian Ciucu, mayor of Bucharest and current vice-president of PNL, posted on Facebook on Saturday that he is refusing his colleagues' proposal to run for first vice-president at the party congress scheduled for 21 June. The decision directly follows the opening of a criminal case by the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) on Thursday, in which Ciucu is accused of bribery and placed under judicial control.
I received the proposal from my colleagues to run for the position of First Vice-President of PNL, being assured of broad support from them. Because of the case opened this week in my name, I do not want to put them in the situation of having a First Vice-President under criminal investigation.
- DNA opens criminal case against Ciucu on bribery charges, places him under judicial control
- Ciucu announces on Facebook he will not run for PNL first vice-president
- PNL Extraordinary Congress scheduled to elect new leadership
Internal party dilemma
According to multiple party sources cited by HotNews and ProTV, Ciucu had been the "safe" choice for the number-two spot in a leadership ticket led by Ilie Bolojan, the expected new party president. The DNA case created a dilemma for Bolojan: either assume the risk of a deputy with an active corruption file or appoint someone else to avoid the impression that PNL is rallying around a mayor under judicial scrutiny. Ciucu's withdrawal resolves that problem ahead of the congress. Bolojan held a two-hour discussion with Ciucu but did not manage to change his mind.
The charges
DNA placed Ciucu under investigation on Thursday on suspicion of bribery, relating to acts allegedly committed during last year's electoral campaign when he was mayor of Sector 6 in Bucharest. The announcement of the case came just days before the extraordinary congress that is expected to reshape the party's top leadership.
Ciucu's justification
In his social media message, Ciucu framed the decision as necessary for the party's moral standing. He wrote that PNL must hold the moral advantage in what he described as a hard fight against the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the system.
PNL must have an impeccable conduct to regain the trust of Romanians and not have my situation constantly thrown in its face. We know how they do it.
He insisted he is not leaving public life but will dedicate himself exclusively to serving Bucharest residents. "I am not giving up, do not take it that way! I am just regrouping to resist with dignity against what is orchestrated against me," he added, expressing trust in the justice system.
What comes next
The extraordinary PNL congress on Sunday will now proceed without Ciucu on the ballot. The party is expected to elect a new leadership team under Ilie Bolojan, with the first vice-presidency still to be filled by another candidate. Ciucu remains mayor of the capital and says he has "too much to do to put the city in order, and time is short."
