PSD does not want "heads of services" who transform institutions into political annexes

Social Democratic Party leader Sorin Grindeanu declared that the party does not want the future heads of the Romanian Intelligence Service and the Foreign Intelligence Service to transform the institutions into "annexes of parties or NGOs", emphasizing that the priority is integrity and institutional experience. The statements were made in a TV intervention, in the context of discussions regarding future nominations for the leadership of the intelligence services.

• "Institutional loyalty is not optional"

Grindeanu specified that the PSD does not seek to impose party people, but people who know very well the functioning of the state and can offer guarantees of integrity. "We are interested in people for whom institutional loyalty is not optional. I do not want these people to transform the secret services into annexes of parties or NGOs," said the social-democratic leader. He stressed that future leaders must have solid administrative experience and not "learn institutions on the job."

• PSD has not made official proposals

Grindeanu specified that PSD has not yet sent names to President Nicuşor Dan, who has the constitutional authority to make nominations, which are subsequently submitted to a vote by Parliament. He reiterated that he does not insist that the positions be filled by party members, but by professionals capable of managing the relationship with state institutions and the political environment.

• Discussions on appointments temporarily postponed

President Nicuşor Dan had announced, on February 12, that discussions on the appointment of the heads of the intelligence services were temporarily suspended, due to other tense topics on the public agenda. The head of state avoided setting a specific deadline for the nominations, citing a desire not to be accused of missing deadlines. Earlier, in July, he had stated that he already had a shortlist of three or four names for the leadership of the SRI and SIE and that the decision would be made after consultations with the parliamentary parties.