BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — The leader of Romania's ruling party has asked a party colleague to press charges against the country's president for saying Romania wasn't prepared to assume the European Union's rotating presidency.

Social Democratic Party chairman Liviu Dragnea alleged Sunday that President Klaus Iohannis committed treason when he questioned Romania's readiness for the EU presidency that starts Jan. 1

During a 90-minute speech at a party meeting, Dragnea also asked the government to give amnesty to "thousands of people" he claims were wrongly imprisoned by anti-corruption prosecutors.

Dragnea is widely perceived to be the person running Romania's government even though he can't be prime minister due to a 2016 conviction for vote-rigging.

The EU has expressed concern about the rule of law in Romania. Dragnea said corruption was worse elsewhere.