Deputies rejected on Tuesday the request of anti-graft prosecutors to arrest Democratic Liberal deputy Dan Pasat. According to information, there were 114 votes for, 34 against and 4 abstains and the request did not meet the necessary number of votes to be adopted, namely 147. Shortly after the vote, Pasat said that he is innocent and that he personally urges anti-graft prosecutors to send the file to justice.

On February 2nd, the judicial committee within the Chamber of Deputies favorably approved with 10 votes for and 8 against the request of anti-graft prosecutors. Dan Pasat is accused of blackmail.

PDL deputies said they will cast a favorable vote for Pasat’s preventive arrest while PSD, PNL and PC declared that they will not vote but will stay in the room to ensure the quorum will be met. According to HotNews.ro sources, Basescu urged Democrat Liberals to vote in favor of the anti-graft prosecutors’ request in the Pasat case. At the end of January, Basescu told PDL to act firmly against members suspected of irregularities.