PSD head Marcel Cholaku says he spoke with Marius Budai and clarified in the context of reports in the public space that the labor minister made indecent proposals to party colleagues after drinking alcohol. “I think I don’t see what’s the matter,” added the SDP leader. “Don’t tell me PSD is abusing women, that’s not the case,” commented Marcel Čolaku, who insisted on providing evidence to support these allegations against Minister Marius Budai, according to News.ro.

“No, we did not have this discussion. I do not know. You are asking me whether Mr. Budai called a fellow party member at 02:00 in the morning? Where is the exceptional case? No, I don’t understand what the matter is. Ask Mr. Buday. I don’t have those details. I assume that Mr. Budai will be able to give you a very precise answer. I had a discussion with Mr. Budai and clarified myself. I see that I do not see what is the matter. Do you have any evidence on this, do you have anything detailed or do you have a personal vendetta with Mr. Budai? Please, when you have something concrete…”, Marcel Čolaku said, answering a question on Monday in the parliament, whether he recommended Marius Budaya to stop drinking alcohol.

The PSD leader added that the details should be provided by Marius Budai and the PSD colleague who was involved in the incident.

“Don’t tell me that PSD abuses women, that it’s not true, and don’t put my family in that context. Do you have details? Please bring them. I answered you. What sacrifices? What kind of victim are we talking about? Who is the victim? Talk to your colleague and if you think you are a victim, contact the police. I talk to everyone, I don’t need to tell my colleagues what I talk about. But where is the victim that I do not understand the details. Nothing seems abnormal to me. But do you know why she was called? Do you know the details? I think that this is something that Mr. Budai and my colleague can talk about,” added Cholaku.

PSD sources told about two episodes in which Marius Budai allegedly behaved inappropriately with women

The labor minister allegedly had two episodes in which he behaved inappropriately towards women, Libertatea newspaper reported last week, citing PSD sources. The first episode would be in August last year, when Marius Budai called the deputy at night when she was at the hotel in Olimpia, and the deputy’s husband had to go down to the reception to solve the problem.

Another episode mentioned by the quoted publication, based on social democratic sources, would have taken place in January of this year, when Budai staged a similar incident in a hotel in Sinai, also with some women. According to political sources, Marius Budai allegedly consumed alcoholic beverages.

Prime Minister Nicolae Chuke, the leader of the PNL, said he would discuss with Labor Minister Marius Budai reports that he had made indecent offers to PSD colleagues after drinking alcohol. Chuke added that he had not read about these episodes in the media.