Romania’s Prime Minister Victor Ponta (in the blue t-shirt) returned from Turkey, where he had knee surgery at a hospital in Istanbul, in June. He sent an official letter to President Klaus Iohannis informing him that he will resume his activity starting Thursday, July 9.

Ponta returned in crutches and with a changed look. He grew a mustache and beard while away, according to a photo he posted on his Facebook page which shows him and the medical personnel that treated him in Turkey.

Deputy Prime Minister Gabriel Oprea replaced Ponta as interim Prime Minister during his medical leave. Ponta has been absent from his office for 26 days. His leave came unexpectedly, at the beginning of June, after Ponta took part at the opening ceremony of the 2015 European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Ponta had injured his knee during a basketball game with some friends, in May.

However, his decision to go to Turkey and have surgery came shortly after Romania’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) started investigating him for conflict of interests. The Parliament rejected DNA’s request to investigate Ponta and a no-confidence motion filed by the Opposition at the beginning of June.

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editor@romania-insider.com