Romanian Ruling Party Frozen Out of EU Faction Over Rule of Law
Romanian parliament building stands in the background in Bucharest, Romania.
Photographer: Akos Stiller/Bloomberg
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Romania’s governing party received a rebuke before next month’s European Parliament elections as its relations with the assembly’s second-biggest group were frozen over concerns about democratic standards.
The Party of European Socialists, or PES, said it won’t hold events with its Romanian contingent until at least June, when discussions over its membership will take place. Romania has faced European Union criticism for trying to loosen punishments for crooked officials. The head of the ruling Social Democrats has one criminal conviction and is appealing a second.