Buzatu's Corruption Trial Begins Amidst PSD's Criticism of USR
Dumitru Buzatu, former Vaslui County Council President, faces trial for corruption nearly three years after his arrest. He was caught with 1.25 million lei in his car, alleged to be a bribe. PSD criticizes USR for handling of criminal cases, calling them a 'party of criminals.' PSD cites USR's handling of Clotilde Armand's conviction and Dominic Fritz's mandate loss. The next hearing is set for September 11, 2026.
Arhivă
Dumitru Buzatu's corruption trial has finally began, nearly three years after his arrest on September 22, 2023. The former Vaslui County Council President was apprehended with 1.25 million lei, approximately 250,000 euros, in his vehicle. The National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) alleges that the money was a bribe from businessman Emil Savin, intended to help payments for road works.
Initially, Buzatu claimed the money was his savings, but later described it as a loan from Savin. His case was registered at the Vaslui Tribunal on December 14, 2023, and the trial began on February 10, 2025, following preliminary chamber proceedings. Despite 25 hearings, a first-instance verdict has yet to be reached, with the next hearing scheduled for September 11, 2026.
The trial has been prolonged due to disputes over the legality of evidence. In 2024, the Vaslui Tribunal excluded certain DNA recordings, a decision confirmed by the Iași Court of Appeal, which found irregularities. However, the recording of the money discovery was not excluded. The trial was allowed to proceed on December 20, 2024, after the indictment was corrected and returned to prosecutors.
Buzatu spent nearly seven months in preventive detention and has been under judicial control since June 2024, following a period of house arrest starting in April 2024. His judicial control was extended for 60 days on March 24, 2026.
Parallel to the trial, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) has launched a campaign against the Save Romania Union (USR), accusing it of harboring 'criminals and convicts.' PSD's latest communiqué, issued on Wednesday, criticizes USR for its perceived double standards in handling criminal cases. The party condemned USR for not excluding Clotilde Armand, who has a first-instance conviction, and for Dominic Fritz losing his mayoral mandate due to a conflict of interest.
PSD criticized USR's past demands for other parties to remove members before conviction, accusing USR of now shielding its own members. In a statement, PSD said, 'Shame on the criminals and convicts from USR!' and mocked, 'Now it's official! New species: 'Good criminals from USR'.' PSD claims USR applies different standards to its members, contrasting 'bad criminals,' who face justice, with 'good criminals from USR,' whom they describe as victims of 'captured justice.'
The ongoing political tensions between PSD and USR highlight the broader debate on accountability and integrity in Romanian politics. As Buzatu's trial progresses, these issues remain leading public discourse.
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