Fritz: Grindeanu risks 800 million euros in EU funds to control integrity agency

USR President Dominic Fritz has accused the PSD's Sorin Grindeanu of risking nearly 800 million euros from Romania's Recovery and Resilience Facility (PNRR) to preserve PSD's political influence over the National Integrity Agency (ANI).

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As a way to maintain PSD's political control over ANI, Sorin Grindeanu is ready to jeopardize almost 800 million euros from the PNRR.

Fritz stated that Grindeanu is "ready to jeopardize almost 800 million euros from the PNRR" to maintain "PSD's political control over ANI." He explained that these funds could be lost if a proposed amendment to the law on incompatibilities is not adopted. This amendment is a key requirement of the PNRR, necessary for aligning Romanian legislation with European standards.

"Instead of explaining why he is blocking this change, Grindeanu continues to spread the false idea that the law is made 'to get me out.' This is a baseless claim. The law does not have retroactive effects but exclusively regulates future situations – something one would expect the President of the Chamber of Deputies to know," Fritz asserted. He believes the real issue is Grindeanu's desire to keep political control over ANI, which he argues should apply the law impartially.

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Instead of explaining why he is blocking this change, Grindeanu continues to spread the false idea that the law is made 'to get me out.' This is a baseless claim. The law does not have retroactive effects but exclusively regulates future situations – something one would expect the President of the Chamber of Deputies to know.

Fritz further alleged that "dozens of cases of incompatibility involving PSD elected officials have been ignored," with "spectacular assets and luxury purchases" remaining uninvestigated. He suggested that Grindeanu is willing to sacrifice PNRR funds to protect this system.

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Dozens of cases of incompatibility involving PSD elected officials have been ignored, and spectacular assets and luxury purchases continue to raise unanswered questions and remain uninvestigated.

In response, Grindeanu accused USR of introducing amendments to the integrity law to benefit party members, including Fritz and Timișoara Vice Mayor Paula Romocean, who have been convicted of conflicts of interest. Grindeanu stated that PSD will not accept USR undermining the National Integrity Agency's powers under the guise of PNRR implementation, calling the amendments an attempt to protect "convicted criminals."

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We have a long list of amendments submitted by USR that diminish the powers of the National Integrity Agency. And we will not accept such a thing.