Romania PM refuses to resign over corruption allegations

Romania's president called on the prime minister to resign on Friday over corruption allegations including forgery and money laundering, a demand that was quickly rebuffed in a dramatic political standoff, Telegraph reported on Friday.

Victor Ponta, the 42-year-old prime minister, appeared before prosecutors on Friday, and, all told, faces 17 separate cases of forgery, money laundering, accessory to tax evasion, and conflict of interest.

President Klaus Iohannis said after meeting Ponta that it was "an impossible situation for Romania for the prime minister to be accused of criminal acts," and warned the country could face a political crisis if he failed to stand down.

"I have requested the prime minister's resignation," he added.

Ponta, who as an MP enjoys immunity from prosecution, and also lost to Iohannis in November's presidential election, responded by saying that he regarded the investigation as political, and would not heed the president's call.

"Only parliament can unseat me," he said on Facebook. "I respect the president's public position but I was given my position by parliament.

"I cannot accept that the anti-corruption prosecutor is above parliament, the government and the citizens of this country!" he wrote. "That would mean a dictatorship and 25 years after the 1989 (revolution) it would be a grave error for all of us!"