Deputy Andrei Csillag, sentenced to eight months in prison for driving under the influence of alcohol, has resigned from his parliamentary group.

Deputy Andrei Csillag and his colleague Gheorghe Pîclișan resigned on Wednesday from the parliamentary group United for Romania, a day after the High Court of Cassation and Justice decided to sentence Csillag to eight months in prison with suspension for driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Although he received a sentence, Csillag can retain his parliamentary mandate, according to current legislation which stipulates the loss of mandate only in the case of a custodial sentence. Csillag was found with a blood alcohol level of 0.45 mg/l and will have to perform 60 days of community service.

The resignation took place before the Legal Commission issued an official opinion. This is the second significant political move for Csillag, who previously left the Young People's Party, accusing the leadership of abandoning the initial values. POT leader, Anamaria Gavrilă, criticized the resigners, calling them careerists.