# Dominic Fritz loses Timișoara mandate via High Court ruling > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/romanian-ani-incompatibility-dispute > Updated: 2026-09-12T14:09:15.000Z. Sources: 61. Developments: 9. Dominic Fritz has officially lost his mayoral mandate in Timișoara following a definitive decision by the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ). The ruling upheld a previous decision by the Timișoara Court of Appeal regarding a conflict of interest. This legal outcome follows the implementation of the Integrity Law, which mandates that officials found to have conflicts of interest must vacate their positions. While Fritz has lost his mayoralty, he intends to remain the president of the USR party and stated he would lead Timișoara through his vice-mayors. He has characterized the new legislation as an ‘anti-Timișoara amendment’. The situation has triggered intense political friction. PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu alleged that USR MEPs attempted to push a resolution in the European Parliament's LIBE Committee to question the rule of law in Romania to protect Fritz. Simultaneously, the National Integrity Agency (ANI) is expanding its enforcement, initiating procedures for 55 individuals to lose their mandates. As Fritz prepares to leave office at the end of September, he is moving to appoint new members to the boards of directors for key municipal companies, including the public transport company and the municipal roads authority. This transition is marked by ongoing disputes with Alfred Simonis, President of the Timiș County Council, who claimed that ‘Timișoara is much larger than one man’ and accused Fritz of attempting to divert attention from his legal situation. Additionally, the administration faces further scrutiny as two USR vice-mayors, Ruben Lațcău and Paula Romocean, are also under investigation by ANI for potential incompatibilities. ## Claims - The amendment will be put to a final plenary vote in the Senate at 16:00. (disputed by 6 sources) - Dominic Fritz will lose his mandate as Mayor of Timișoara due to the Integrity Law. (disputed by 4 sources) - Dominic Fritz announced he will remain the president of the USR party. (disputed by 3 sources) - The Senate’s agenda for 5 August includes committee work from 9:00 to 16:00 and a plenary session at 15:00 to discuss the integrity draft. (disputed) - The amendment is perceived as targeting Timișoara mayor Dominic Fritz. (corroborated by 9 sources) - Dominic Fritz says the amendment is unconstitutional because it applies retroactively, violating the principle that laws affect only future actions. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The USR Political Committee reconfirmed Dominic Fritz as party president with 151 votes. (corroborated by 8 sources) - Senate legal committee adopted a PSD‑proposed amendment to the ANI law that mandates officials declared incompatible or in conflict of interest to lose their mandate within 30 days, even for cases. (corroborated by 7 sources) - The amendment could jeopardise roughly €770 million of PNRR funds linked to the integrity law. (corroborated by 7 sources) - Opponents said they would challenge the amendment before Romania’s Constitutional Court. (corroborated by 7 sources) - The amendment was supported by PSD, AUR and some PNL senators and opposed by PNL and USR senators (corroborated by 6 sources) - Interim prime minister Ilie Bolojan opposed the amendment, warning it threatens European funds and the rule of law. (corroborated by 5 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-12: Dominic Fritz prepares municipal appointments before leaving Timișoara mayoralty Outgoing Timișoara Mayor Dominic Fritz is arranging leadership appointments in key municipal companies amid a legal conflict of interest ruling and escalating political disputes with PSD leader Alfred Simonis. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominic-fritz-and-alfred-simonis-clash-over-political-relationship ### 2026-09-03: Dominic Fritz loses mayoral mandate following court ruling Timișoara Mayor Dominic Fritz lost his mandate due to a conflict of interest ruling. PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu accused USR MEPs of attempting to trigger rule-of-law concerns in the EU to protect him. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominic-fritz-loses-mayoral-mandate-following-court-ruling ### 2026-08-30: Romania: ANI targets 55 officials while Miruță reforms CNAIR Romania's National Integrity Agency is targeting 55 officials for mandate loss, while Transport Minister Radu Miruță implements performance-based reforms at CNAIR amid ongoing political friction. 23 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominic-fritz-to-remain-usr-leader-despite-ani-reform-impact ### 2026-08-27: Timișoara political leaders discuss potential mayoral succession Political leaders in Timișoara are discussing potential successor candidates for Mayor Dominic Fritz, whose mandate may be terminated due to new integrity laws. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/timioara-political-leaders-discuss-potential-mayoral-succession ### 2026-08-18: Dominic Fritz reconfirmed as USR president amid CCR ruling USR has unanimously reconfirmed Dominic Fritz as president following a CCR ruling that could force him to step down as Mayor of Timișoara due to a controversial Integrity Law amendment. 21 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominic-fritz-faces-mandate-uncertainty-following-constitutional-court-ruling ### 2026-08-05: Romanian Senate passes Integrity Law with amendments targeting Dominic Fritz and partners Romanian Senate approved the Integrity Law, imposing loss of office for officials with definitive incompatibility and requiring partners to declare assets; the amendments target mayor Dominic Fritz and risk €‑​ 23 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominic-fritz-mayoral-dispute-intensifies-as-romanian-parties-clash-over-ani-law-amendments ### 2026-08-05: Prefect Paul Finta Defends Salary Cut for Timișoara Mayor Dominic Fritz Amid Criminal Complaint Prefect Paul Finta reduced Timișoara Mayor Dominic Fritz’s salary by 10% for six months, citing conflict‑of‑interest law; the decision sparked criticism and a criminal complaint by politician Cristian Popescu P 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/prefect-paul-finta-defends-salary-cut-for-timioara-mayor-dominic-fritz-amid-criminal-complaint ### 2026-07-30: Dominic Fritz faces possible loss of mayoral mandate over controversial ANI law amendment A PSD‑AUR amendment to Romania’s ANI law would retroactively strip officials like Timișoara mayor Dominic Fritz of their mandates, risking €770 million in EU funds; USR calls it unconstitutional and has filed a 18 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romanian-senate-passes-amendment-targeting-mayor-dominic-fritz-in-ani-law ### 2026-07-06: Paula Romocean loses appeal, remains declared incompatible by ANI in Timișoara Timișoara vice‑mayor Paula Romocean lost her appeal, keeping her incompatibility ruling by ANI, while mayor Dominic Fritz denounced the agency’s broader enforcement. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/paula-romocean-loses-appeal-remains-declared-incompatible-by-ani-in-timioara --- Cite as: Dominic Fritz loses Timișoara mandate via High Court ruling. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/romanian-ani-incompatibility-dispute