Romanian anti-corruption prosecutors charge deputy government secretary with influence-peddling in 3 million scheme

Romania’s National Anti-Corruption Directorate formally placed Cristina Trăilă, the deputy secretary general of the government, under criminal investigation on Tuesday for alleged complicity in abuse of influence to obtain undue benefits, according to an official statement .

Prosecutors allege Trăilă, in her capacity as deputy secretary general, supported efforts by businessman Fănel Bogoș and former PNL Vaslui leader Mihai Barbu to replace the head of the Vaslui Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Directorate. The stated goal was to secure undue benefits for Bogoș and his company, including approval of a compensation file worth approximately €3 million and the reduction or cessation of sanitary-veterinary controls at his farms, the DNA said .

Trăilă was questioned at the DNA’s Iași office on Tuesday morning. Her lawyer, Andreea Pelinari, later told National TV that the charges were premature, stating prosecutors currently hold only a suspicion, not certainty, under the criminal procedure code. Pelinari also confirmed she had requested access to the case file to prepare a defense .

Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said he spoke with Trăilă after the DNA announcement and requested she meet with him on Wednesday to discuss the allegations. Bolojan stated he would decide on her position after understanding the specifics of the case. “I don’t know what she is accused of or what role she played in this equation,” Bolojan told Digi24, adding that Bogoș had visited his office in 2025 at the insistence of a local PNL leader, but the meeting did not yield the businessman’s desired outcome .

The Social Democratic Party demanded Trăilă’s immediate resignation, arguing that Bolojan bears political responsibility as he personally appointed her. “PSD underlines that Ms. Trăilă was appointed to her position by a direct and personal decision of the dismissed prime minister Ilie Bolojan. Therefore, he is jointly responsible for the corruption acts of his subordinate,” the party stated .

The Alliance for the Union of Romanians also called for Trăilă’s urgent removal, distinguishing between legal and political accountability. “A dignitary in a key position within the government apparatus, suspected in a case involving the use of political influence, cannot continue to hold the same position until their legal situation is clarified,” AUR said in a statement .

Bogoș, a veterinarian and businessman, allegedly orchestrated a complex influence-trafficking scheme in 2025 after the Vaslui Sanitary Veterinary Directorate uncovered irregularities at one of his poultry farms. Judicial sources previously indicated that hundreds of thousands of euros were spent to reach political leaders, former intelligence officials, and ex-magistrates, all promising to secure the dismissal of the director .