Ruling Social Democratic Party Deputy Chairman Viorel Hrebenciuc during a 27 May press conference characterized National Liberal Party (PNL) Chairman Theodor Stolojan as a "Hitlerite" for claiming that the PSD does not have the political will to combat corruption, Mediafax reported.

Hrebenciuc said that Stolojan's "manner of combating corruption" reminded him of Nazi Germany.

Stolojan declined to comment on Hrebenciuc's statements.

Meanwhile, PSD Bucharest Mayor Candidate and Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana announced in a 27 May press release that he has filed lawsuits against journalist Cornel Ivanciuc of the weekly "Academia Catavencu" and the "Romania Mare" weekly for libel.

(RFE/RL 28.v.04)