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BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania's Parliament has called on the president to resign, saying suspicions that his brother took a bribe from the family of a well-known convict have damaged the prestige of his office.
President Traian Basescu, whose brother was arrested last week on charges that he took a 250,000 euros ($340,000) bribe from the son of convict imprisoned for attempted murder to get his sentence reduced, denies involvement in the case. He apologized to Romanians for his brother's alleged wrongdoing.
Parliament adopted a statement with 344 votes with 17 abstentions on Wednesday urging Basescu to step down. It said charges against his brother Mircea Basescu and his association with organized crime groups "gravely and irremediably harm the prestige of the presidential office."
Parliament will send the statement to leaders of all European Union countries.
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