Romania’s Minister of Interior Gabriel Oprea, who was also a deputy Prime Minister, used the motorcade 1,607 times between January and October this year, for travelling both to public institutions and private destinations, according to the prosecutors who are currently investigating the death of a policeman in Oprea’s motorcade.

The former deputy Prime Minister could thus be charged for abuse of office, reports local Agerpres.

Unlike Gabriel Oprea, President Klaus Iohannis used the motorcade 580 times during this period whereas Prime Minister Victor Ponta used it 817 times. Only the President, Prime Minister and the presidents of the Parliament’s two chambers have the right to use motorcades that facilitate their move through traffic while the Minister of Interior can only use a motorcade for urgent missions.

Minister Oprea came under public scrutiny after a motorcycle policeman recently died while on a mission in Bucharest, as he fell into an open pit in the road. The policeman was part of the minister’s motorcade.

Oprea said on November 4 that he will not be part of the future Government, but that UNPR, the party he leads, would not change its policy and enter negotiations to be part of the future government coalition.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta resigned on November 4, together with all the members of his Government.

editor@romania-insider.com