The National Anticorruption Department (DNA) ordered on Tuesday the prosecution of former Prime Minister and current Senate president Calin Popescu Tariceanu.

Tariceanu is charged with perjury and favoring the offender in the case in which Paul Lambrino, the nephew of Romania’s King Carol II, local businessman Remus Truica, and media owner Dan Andronic were recently indicted for the illegal restitution of the Baneasa Royal Farm.

Tariceanu allegedly lied under oath when he was questioned as a witness in this case, on April 15. He said that he had no knowledge about the acquisition of Paul of Romania’ successional rights by Tal Silberstein, Remus Truica and others, and that he hadn’t talked with Truica about notarial fees, according to a statement of DNA.

Moreover, the prosecutors say that Tariceanu lied when he said he had no close relations and had not stayed in touch with Dan Andronic and Tal Silberstein. He also committed perjury when claiming that he hadn’t introduced Tal Silberstein to other politicians in Romania.

“These statements are inappropriate aspects of truth, being contradicted by the evidence (statements of witnesses, suspects, and other evidence),” reads the DNA statement.

Calin Popescu Tariceanu was Prime Minister of Romania between December 29, 2004 and December 22, 2008. He was also one of the founders and the president of the National Liberal Party (PNL). He resigned from the party in February 2014, after PNL decided to withdraw from the alliance with the Social Democratic Party (PSD), and from the Government.

Tariceanu was elected head of Senate in March last year.

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