"It's very hard to explain why a lawyer convicted for land restitution is pardoned twice," the Prime Minister said, referring to the sister of Camelia Stoian, the folk music singer.
"Legally, the President’s right to pardon is provided in the Constitution and is a full right. The U.S. president is allowed to pardon in the same way (...). What I think should be presented here is the difference in approach" Victor Ponta said.
"Therefore Gica Popescu does not need to be pardoned, although I think he has done very much for Romania (...). He committed a mistake, he was convicted, but you have national arguments in favor of your pardon granting. Thou (Traian Băsescu-editore’ note) you are not the President of a lawyer, you're the President of Romania and you can do gestures for Romania, a Romanian who did extraordinary things, “the Premier said.
"Whoever is with Mr. Băsescu is good, whoever isn’t, is bad", Victor Ponta concluded.