PM Ponta gives up PhD title in law

Prime Minister Victor Ponta wrote a letter to Bucharest University rector Mircea Dumitru, announcing him of his decision to give up the PhD title in law he was granted in 2003.

"Esteemed Mr. Rector, I want to inform you of my decision to give up the PhD title in law I was granted in 2003 by the University of Bucharest. I should have made this gesture a long time ago, amid the public allegations as regards my PhD thesis. I did not make this gesture because I considered I was acting in good faith in providing arguments against the allegations and I did not want to mix my profession with my political career," Ponta wrote in the letter published on his Facebook page.

He also said in the letter made public on Facebook that after he withdraws from politics, he wants to work on a new PhD paper, respecting all standards and requests in force at that moment.

''The education field is fundamental and essential not only for the Government's activity, but also for our future as a European society. Starting from today, we have a new minister of education and research and I wish him a very successful term, without being disturbed by a topic that has become eminently political," Victor Ponta said.

Ponta also said in his letter that the time spent as a student of the Faculty of Law at the University of Bucharest is full of great memories.AGERPRES