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21. 06. 12. - 16:00

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21. 06. 12. - 16:00

Adrian Nastase out of danger following attempted suicide

Michael Leidig

Former Prime Minister Adrian Nastase who tried to kill himself last night, shortly after he has been convicted to two years in prison for corruption, is out of danger following surgery.

Nastase shot himself in the head last night a few minutes after he told the two Police officer who came to his residence to take him to a prison in Bucharest, to give him a few minutes to take a few books.

Nastase went in his office and closed the door, took a 9mm gun and then went to a drawer and put a bullet in the gun. One of the police officers realised that something was wrong, and burst in the room whilst Nastase had the gun at his head. He hit his elbow right when the former PM shot himself and the bullet hit his neck.

The premier has been rushed at Floreasca emergency Hospital in Bucharest where a team of doctors decided to wait until today to operate him.

The drama unfolded while dozens of journalists and cameramen were waiting outside Nastase’s villa, eagerly waiting for the PM to come out escorted by the Police to be taken to Rahova prison in Bucharest in order to start the two-year prison term.

The former PM’s suicide attempt shocked the public and split the national media between the supporters of president Traian Basescu who welcomed Nastase’s conviction and those who are blaming the head of state of masterminding false charges against Adrian Nastase.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta, whose political mentor Nastase was, visited him last night at the hospital. Visibly shaken by the drama of his fellow party colleague, Ponta told journalists" I hope Mr Basescu is finally happy now".

A group of students went to the hospital last night to show their support for the former PM. They were protesting against the  president, holding a banner reading: "Are you happy Basescu? How many people did you kill so far?"

Nastase was charged by the Anti-Corruption prosecutors of financing his 2004 presidential campaign with funds obtained from of a conference with entrance fee that his campaign staff organized, called the "Quality Trophee".

The former PM always claimed his innocence and  said the charges against him were manufactured and claims not to be responsible of any wrongdoings. He says he is a victim of President Traian Basescu’s revenge. The two competed in the 2004 presidential elections when Nastase lost.

The sentence took aback the Social Democrats of Prime Minister Victor Ponta, who suffered a new blow in the war with Traian Basescu.

On Wednesday, Ponta warned his cabinet to expect more low-blows and ruthless attacks from Basescu, who was left without political support following the fall of Dem Libs-led cabinet in late April.

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