Calin Popescu Tariceanu

Romania's ambassador to Washington, George Maior, a former director of the Romanian intelligence service, faces an uncertain future after MPs grilled him on Wednesday in parliament over his statements about former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and his lobbying activities.

Senate President Calin Popescu Tariceanu declared on Monday that there is sufficient evidence to prove that in Romania, street movements are not autonomous, but rather "resonance boxes of political groups which occupy positions at the head of the state, but also of some special type of institutions, such as the prosecution ones, as well as the intelligence services."

An "anti-abuse" rally is being organized today as of 20:00 hrs by the ruling Social Democratic party (PSD), with hundreds of thousands expected to gather in the venue of the event - the Bucharest Victoria Square.

The relevant decision was taken in the PSD National Executive Committee (CExN) early last week.

Recent Romanian Supreme Court rulings that acquitted several high-ranking politicians in some of the country's most notorious graft cases risk damaging prosecutors' credibility - at a time when they are battling political moves to limit their independence, analysts warn.

Chairman of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) Calin Popescu Tariceanu stated on Saturday in Timisoara that Prime Minister Viorica Dancila enjoys all his support and that of the ALDE, adding that Chairman of the National Liberal Party (PNL) Ludovic Orban's gesture will be labeled as "a political slip."

National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) prosecutors have requested, on Tuesday, at the Supreme Court, a three-year prison sentence for Senate's President Calin Popescu Tariceanu, in the file in which he is accused of perjury.

Leaders of Romania's ruling centre-left coalition on Monday said they were considering the formation of a new committee in parliament to investigate the possible existence and workings of a "deep state" - as their conflict with anti-graft prosecutors worsens.

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced that the activity of each minister in her Cabinet will be assessed on a monthly basis, together with the leaders of the Social Democrat Party (PSD) - the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) coalition, Liviu Dragnea and Calin Popescu Tariceanu.

Romania's royals may have to pack their bags and quit their official residence in Bucharest, Elisabeta Palace, by February 5, after the death of the country's last monarch, Michael I, in December.

Romania's royal family has used the palace located in northern Bucharest since 1997, when the former King was granted permission to return to the country.

Romania's ruling Social Democrat-led government survived its first impeachment motion in parliament on Thursday, as the opposition, civil society activists and trade unions called for renewed protests against various measures taken by the government this year.