Romanian agriculture minister forced to resign

The Romanian agriculture minister facing corruption allegations, Decebal Traian Remes, resigned Thursday. The resignation comes three days after Romanian prosecutors said he was being investigated for allegedly taking a bribe in exchange for promising to favor a company in a public auction. Romanian agriculture minister forced to resign Agriculture Minister Decebal Traian Remes submitted his resignation on request from Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu. "Due to the press scandal ... the prime minister considers that this means he cannot carry out his job efficiently," government spokeswoman Camelia Spataru said. Romania, which joined the EU on Jan. 1, is under pressure to reform its agriculture industry, and the European Commission on Wednesday warned that Romania could lose 25 percent of its EU farm subsidies if it did not improve its system for overseeing payments by Nov. 9. "It is essential for the ministry to function normally in this period," Spataru said. On Wednesday, a video was aired on national television apparently showing Remes receiving a bribe. Prosecutors have accused Remes of taking a bribe of €15,000 (US$21,000) and the promise of €455 (US$640) in goods — including homemade sausages and plum brandy — from former Agriculture Minister Ioan Muresan, who allegedly was acting on behalf of businessman Gheorghe Ciorba. Prosecutors said the payment was meant to secure favor for Ciorba's firm in a public auction, however Ciorba reported the bribe to authorities before the auction took place. Muresan was detained by prosecutors over the weekend and released Sunday. An investigation against him continues.

Romanian agriculture minister forced to resign

Agriculture Minister Decebal Traian Remes submitted his resignation on request from Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu.

"Due to the press scandal ... the prime minister considers that this means he cannot carry out his job efficiently," government spokeswoman Camelia Spataru said.

Romania, which joined the EU on Jan. 1, is under pressure to reform its agriculture industry, and the European Commission on Wednesday warned that Romania could lose 25 percent of its EU farm subsidies if it did not improve its system for overseeing payments by Nov. 9.

"It is essential for the ministry to function normally in this period," Spataru said.

On Wednesday, a video was aired on national television apparently showing Remes receiving a bribe.

Prosecutors have accused Remes of taking a bribe of €15,000 (US$21,000) and the promise of €455 (US$640) in goods — including homemade sausages and plum brandy — from former Agriculture Minister Ioan Muresan, who allegedly was acting on behalf of businessman Gheorghe Ciorba.

Prosecutors said the payment was meant to secure favor for Ciorba's firm in a public auction, however Ciorba reported the bribe to authorities before the auction took place.

Muresan was detained by prosecutors over the weekend and released Sunday. An investigation against him continues.