"I believe that the President of Romania should resign immediately, so that no one should believe that from position he is occupying, in the end he is the person who appointed judges, can influence the normal course of the investigation in a case that, at least after what everyone has seen last night, it does not directly accuse president Basescu but it accuses the President's brother, " Victor Ponta said.
"I am not suggesting any action of justice. I am saying the following. It is a time when state institutions can really sit the great test of independence, because there is one thing to investigate politicians from parties whom Mr. President dislikes and there is another to enforce the law when it comes to the president's brother, " the Prime Minister said.
"Now is the time when he, by himself (Traian Basescu – editor’s note ) must support the prestige and independence of the judiciary, and to step down from the office any Romanian can believe in , in some way, can affect the truth" Ponta said.
Ponta showed that the suspension of Traian Basescu can also be taken into account, if the investigation shows he was involved in this case.
"If the president did something, of course we consider a suspension. I, from what I saw, he did not do something himself. Here we are talking about the fact that the independence and prestige of the judiciary must be defended by the President, even by this personal sacrifice. Namely, to say: OK, I quit my position lest someone should say that I am the reason they did not investigate my brother " Victor Ponta said.