Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said that the information services received more money at the last budget rectification in order to cover their salaries. The situation appeared, according to him, due to the salary increases decided in 2024 by the Ciolacu government, an election year with four rows of elections.
Ilie Bolojan explains the supplementation of the budget for photo services: Profimedia
Asked why the amounts for services were supplemented, the prime minister explained: “All the institutions that were in the situation of not being able to cover their full salaries have received the amounts so that we can ensure the payment of salaries. At many institutions in the sphere of public order, due to the increase of salaries from last spring, through the annualization effect-even if the salaries have not increased, but the total fund of salaries and pensions in the public sector (…) the budgets increased because they applied from January to the end of the year. And from here these differences appeared in many areas. This is the explanation ”, Bolojan said, according to News.ro.
The reaction to the names conveyed for the SRI and SIE chief
In the public space, information appeared about two possible names for the management of services: lawyer Gabriel Zbârcea at SRI and ambassador Marius Lazurca at SIE.
Bolojan said that he did not know the Zbârcea: “I did not have the opportunity to meet Mr. Zbârcea. I never discussed with him”.
Instead, the prime minister confirmed that he met Lazurca during the time he was an ambassador to Budapest: “I had a good collaboration with him, being mayor in Oradea. And I consider him a serious man and a diplomat of value of our country, an experienced man. “
Who decides the appointments
Asked if Lazurca would be suitable for the head of the SIE, the prime minister stressed that the decision belongs to the president: “The proposals for the head of the intelligence services, as provided by our legislation, do the President of Romania. And when Mr. President of Romania will consider that he has the right persons, he will certainly initiate a dialogue with the main parliamentary forces, because these proposals must be voted in Parliament ”.
In connection with the fact that President Nicușor Dan has not yet advanced proposals, Bolojan commented: “Some decisions are made faster, others later. The president will make the proposals when he considers it appropriate. These are the data ”.
Political context
The Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) does not have a civil leadership in the summer of 2023, when Eduard Hellvig resigned. At SIE, the institution is headed by Gabriel Vlase, former PSD MP.
In September, President Nicușor Dan signed the decree of recall Marius Lazurca from the position of ambassador to Mexico. Asked then if he would call him to the SIE leadership, the head of state replied: “I think it can help more from a central position. ”
