Former Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea lost his immunity on Wednesday, February 3, as the Senate approved the anticorruption prosecutors’ request to start the criminal proceedings against him.

The Senate made the decision to lift Oprea’s immunity with 102 votes for and 30 votes against. The vote, which was secret, came one day after the Senate’s Judiciary Committee also approved the National Anticorruption Department DNA’s request.

Oprea, who is also a Senator, is accused of abuse of office in a case that involves the illegal use of the motorcade.

During the Senate’s meeting, Oprea asked his colleagues to approve the prosecution request, arguing that finding the truth as soon as possible was in his best interest, reports local Mediafax. However, he again said that he was not guilty of abuse of office.

Romania’s General Prosecutor Tiberiu Nitu resigned on Tuesday, February 2, after his name appeared in Gabriel Oprea’s case.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com