Paul of Romania asks French justice to stop his extradition, citing his serious health condition and the political nature of the case

Paul Philip of Romania, 78, asked the Paris Court of Appeal on Wednesday to halt his extradition to Romania, where he is due to serve a three-year and four-month prison sentence. The French court’s decision is expected on November 4.

Before the judges, he cited serious neurological and cardiac conditions and said: “Romania has been persecuting me for 30 years.” His lawyers argued that the case was “purely political” and asked for his surrender to be suspended on humanitarian grounds. One of his attorneys warned that Paul of Romania could be transported on a stretcher and might return “in a coffin.”

The French prosecution rejected the arguments, stating that his medical problems had been assessed and could be treated in Romania. France’s Court of Cassation had previously approved the surrender, following several contradictory rulings. Paul of Romania was convicted in Romania in December 2020 of influence peddling and complicity in a case concerning the recovery of properties claimed by the royal family. The estimated loss to the state is at least 145 million euros.