Latest news with #DragosAnastasiu
Epoch Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Epoch Times
Romanian Deputy PM Resigns Over Old Bribery Case
Romanian Deputy Prime Minister Dragos Anastasiu resigned on Sunday after an old corruption scandal resurfaced. Anastasiu had been tasked by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan with overseeing the reform of state-owned companies as part of the coalition government's push to reduce the largest budget deficit in the European Union. The deficit sat at 9.3 percent in 2024, according to S&P Global.
Al Bawaba
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Romanian Deputy PM resigns amid resurfaced corruption scandal
ALBAWABA- Romania's Deputy Prime Minister, Dragoș Anastasiu, announced his resignation on Sunday following the resurfacing of an old corruption scandal in which he was involved as a witness. According to Reuters, His departure comes as the country's fragile, one-month-old coalition government pushes ahead with controversial cost-cutting reforms aimed at reducing the EU's largest budget deficit. Anastasiu, who had been appointed by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan to lead reforms of Romania's inefficient state-owned enterprises, stepped down after media reports revisited a corruption case involving his company and the national tax authority. According to the revived case, one of Anastasiu's firms was blackmailed by a tax inspector into paying bribes disguised as consultancy fees from 2009 to 2017 in order to avoid burdensome audits. The company eventually reported the inspector, who was convicted in 2023. Neither Anastasiu nor his business partner were charged with any wrongdoing. In a public statement, Anastasiu defended his company's conduct, saying it had paid all required taxes and that the payments were made 'for survival, not profit.' He urged fellow business owners to come forward with similar experiences. Also Read Cambodia–Thailand border clashes persist despite ceasefire talks 'I encourage every entrepreneur to speak out about the conditions under which business has been conducted in Romania. We must no longer tolerate what we once did, even when mistakes were made,' he said. The resignation adds pressure on the government as it prepares to raise several taxes in August, cut public sector bonuses, and lay off staff, measures that have already triggered street protests. Although Romania narrowly avoided a downgrade from the lowest investment-grade credit rating, market volatility continues to pose risks.
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Romanian deputy PM resigns after bribery case resurfaces
BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romanian deputy prime minister Dragos Anastasiu resigned on Sunday after an old corruption scandal in which he was involved as a witness resurfaced at a time when the one-month-old coalition government is trying to enforce cost-cutting reforms. Anastasiu had been tasked by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan with overseeing the reform of state-owned companies, part of broader efforts to reduce the largest budget deficit in the European Union and root out waste and inefficiency. Last week, an old corruption case revealed that one of Anastasiu's firms had been blackmailed by a tax authority inspector into paying bribes disguised as consultancy fees for eight years from 2009 or risk lengthy inspections. The company later denounced the inspector, who was convicted in 2023. Anastasiu and his business partner were never charged with a crime. Anastasiu said his company had paid all its taxes and the bribes were "for survival, not profit". "I encourage every entrepreneur to speak out and say under what conditions business has been done in Romania and no longer accept what we did while making mistakes," he told reporters on Sunday. The government, which will hike several taxes from August and is laying off staff and cutting bonuses, has already faced several street protests but has narrowly avoided a ratings downgrade from the lowest rung of investment grade. The European Union and NATO state has been rocked by political instability in the wake of a presidential election, which was cancelled in December and re-run in May, with market turmoil boosting borrowing costs and crashing the leu currency. (Reporting by Luiza Ilie; editing by Giles Elgood)
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Romanian deputy PM resigns after bribery case resurfaces
BUCHAREST - Romanian deputy prime minister Dragos Anastasiu resigned on Sunday after an old corruption scandal in which he was involved as a witness resurfaced at a time when the one-month-old coalition government is trying to enforce cost-cutting reforms. Anastasiu had been tasked by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan with overseeing the reform of state-owned companies, part of broader efforts to reduce the largest budget deficit in the European Union and root out waste and inefficiency. Last week, an old corruption case revealed that one of Anastasiu's firms had been blackmailed by a tax authority inspector into paying bribes disguised as consultancy fees for eight years from 2009 or risk lengthy inspections. The company later denounced the inspector, who was convicted in 2023. Anastasiu and his business partner were never charged with a crime. Anastasiu said his company had paid all its taxes and the bribes were "for survival, not profit". "I encourage every entrepreneur to speak out and say under what conditions business has been done in Romania and no longer accept what we did while making mistakes," he told reporters on Sunday. The government, which will hike several taxes from August and is laying off staff and cutting bonuses, has already faced several street protests but has narrowly avoided a ratings downgrade from the lowest rung of investment grade. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sewage shaft failure linked to sinkhole; PUB calling safety time-out on similar works islandwide Singapore Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole did not happen overnight: Experts Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole Asia Singapore-only car washes will get business licences revoked, says Johor govt World Food airdropped into Gaza as Israel opens aid routes Sport Arsenal beat Newcastle in five-goal thriller to bring Singapore Festival of Football to a close Singapore Benchmark barrier: Six of her homeschooled kids had to retake the PSLE Asia S'porean trainee doctor in Melbourne arrested for allegedly filming colleagues in toilets since 2021 The European Union and NATO state has been rocked by political instability in the wake of a presidential election, which was cancelled in December and re-run in May, with market turmoil boosting borrowing costs and crashing the leu currency. REUTERS
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Romanian deputy PM resigns after bribery case resurfaces
BUCHAREST, July 27 (Reuters) - Romanian deputy prime minister Dragos Anastasiu resigned on Sunday after an old corruption scandal in which he was involved as a witness resurfaced at a time when the one-month-old coalition government is trying to enforce cost-cutting reforms. Anastasiu had been tasked by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan with overseeing the reform of state-owned companies, part of broader efforts to reduce the largest budget deficit in the European Union and root out waste and inefficiency. Last week, an old corruption case revealed that one of Anastasiu's firms had been blackmailed by a tax authority inspector into paying bribes disguised as consultancy fees for eight years from 2009 or risk lengthy inspections. The company later denounced the inspector, who was convicted in 2023. Anastasiu and his business partner were never charged with a crime. Anastasiu said his company had paid all its taxes and the bribes were "for survival, not profit". "I encourage every entrepreneur to speak out and say under what conditions business has been done in Romania and no longer accept what we did while making mistakes," he told reporters on Sunday. The government, which will hike several taxes from August and is laying off staff and cutting bonuses, has already faced several street protests but has narrowly avoided a ratings downgrade from the lowest rung of investment grade. The European Union and NATO state has been rocked by political instability in the wake of a presidential election, which was cancelled in December and re-run in May, with market turmoil boosting borrowing costs and crashing the leu currency.
