Prosecutors continue to count General Ciucă's "panels"

The chief prosecutor of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), Marius Voineag, stated on TV that the file regarding the paneling of the former PNL president, Nicolae Ciucă, is still under investigation, the investigation being complex, which concerns not only the campaign to promote the book "A Soldier in the Service of the Country", but also the use of subsidies received by the party. "It is a file that is under investigation at Section II. It is a year old and has several dozen volumes. It is not an easy file. It does not only concern this component, but also the subsidies to the party. We are in the process of making some findings. Let's hope that they will come out in the coming period", said Voineag. The DNA investigation was opened in 2024, following a complaint submitted by the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice, after a complaint filed by AUR leader George Simion, regarding the financing of billboards to promote the book signed by Nicolae Ciucă. According to the National Anticorruption Directorate, the file concerns suspicions related to the use of public funds allocated to political parties by the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP) for purposes other than legal ones. In a statement dated November 19, 2024, the DNA stated that, although criminal prosecution in rem (regarding the act, not the person) was initiated, no criminal prosecution was ordered against any person. "In the respective file, no further criminal prosecution against any person is ordered," the institution said at the time.

• 2 million euros to promote the book "A Soldier in the Service of the Country"

The publication snoop.ro reported in 2024 that the PNL had paid approximately 2 million euros of public money to promote the book "A Soldier in the Service of the Country", signed by Nicolae Ciucă. The billboards were allegedly placed in several cities across the country in the run-up to the presidential election campaign. Former Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă, then president of the PNL, stated that the party "has nothing to hide" and that the opening of an "in rem work" is an automatic legal procedure following any criminal complaint. "It's a long way from a work to a file. The Liberals have nothing to hide regarding this expense", Ciucă stated in November 2024.

According to Marius Voineag, prosecutors are currently conducting technical and scientific findings related to the flow of funds, invoices and the financing mechanism of the promotion campaign. DNA is investigating possible facts of: use of subsidies for purposes other than legal ones, improper use of funds guaranteed from public money, money laundering, according to documents mentioned by the press.