By Canadian Press

Romania ruling party boss gets 3 1/2 years in prison for graft

May 27, 2019 | 5:05 AM

BUCHAREST, Romania — A Romanian court has sentenced the country’s most powerful politician to 3 1/2 years in prison for official misconduct in a graft case.

Monday’s sentencing of Social Democratic Party leader Liviu Dragnea comes after a 2018 conviction linked to the employment of two party members at a public agency.

Dragnea, already blocked from being prime minister because of a 2016 conviction for vote-rigging, is expected to be imprisoned within 24 hours.

Dragnea’s party suffered huge losses in European Parliament election on Sunday, falling to second place behind the opposition National Liberal Party.

Two and Out

PETERS: Destruction of the Red Bridge clears the way for something much, much better

7h ago

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: September 19, 2024

Sep 19, 2024

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Time to listen to the soldiers in the trenches

Sep 19, 2024

Additionally, a non-binding referendum called by President Klaus Iohannis seeking to pressure the government into dropping efforts to water down anti-corruption measures won support from 80% of voters on Sunday.

The Associated Press