Romanian liberals Ovidiu Silaghi (in picture) and Eduard Hellvig have resigned from the Chamber of Deputies in order to fill the European Parliaments seats vacated by Cristian Busoi and Ramona Manescu, according to PNL president Crin Antonescu.

Speaking about the moves Antonescu, quoted by local news agency Mediafax, said:

“The reason is simple: as you know, Mr. Cristian Busoi and Mrs. Ramona Manescu’s departure from the European Parliament has vacated two seats which are normally filled by colleagues on the lists - those who want to use this candidacy, because we had some colleagues that were on the lists and didn't want to. Mr. Silaghi and Mr. Hellvig are on this list and they are going to the European Parliament,”

Following his departure from the European Parliament, Busoi has been named head of the National Health Insurance House (CNAS) in Romania, while Manescu was named the country’s new Transport Minister.

The PNL president pointed out that Silaghi’s legal situation would not be in any way influenced by his move to the European Parliament, as the institution has the same rules as the Romanian Parliament.

“His presence in the European Parliament will not obstruct or delay any steps the National Anticorruption Department or someone else wants to make in this case,” said Antonescu.

Liberal MP Silaghi was Romanian Prime Minister’s first choice for the seat of Transport Minister after the previous Transport Minister Relu Fenechiu was sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of corruption.

However, on August 20, Silaghi withdrew his candidacy for the position after prosecutors from the Anti-Corruption Department DNA announced that it would ask the Chamber of Deputies for permission to start criminal proceedings against him over suspicions of influence peddling during his previous term as Transport Minister in 2012.

Liberal MEP Manescu was named Transport Minister after Romanian president Traian Basescu approved the proposal made by the Prime minister Victor Ponta earlier on August 26.

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