Nicușor Dan recently denied a possible connection with Florian Coldea, former operative chief of the SRI, but the reserve general contradicted him, noting that they had seen each other “several times”.
What is the connection between Nicușor Dan and Florian Colea. Photo: Inquam/Mediafax
Asked during a press conference if he has anything to do with Florian Coldea, Nicușor Dan had a vehement answer: “None (link no)“.
On the other hand, in a discussion with Ion Cristoiu, Florian Coldea stated that he met the current mayor several times.
“He said that he saw Nicușor Dan a few times, for example“, reported Ion Cirstoiu, after a discussion with the reserve general.
Florian Coldea's statement came in the context of a public appeal by Ion Cristoiu, in which the journalist asked him to publicly explain the accusations of corruption brought against him. The newspaper would have been contacted by the former military head of the SRI, who would have told him several aspects.
“We talked, I reaffirmed the idea of giving me an interview, he explained to me that, as he also said in the press release, he cannot at this time, because he does not want to interfere with justice. I still think he needs an interview. The fact that he called me means that he has confidence and must have a reliable journalist, like me, who neither sings nor curses at him. Since 2017, he has not given any interviews. He should give an interview about several things that happened to him, and how he left SRI, and about the relationship with Ghita, many complicated things.
During this dialogue I expressed some amazement. I also tell you what I understood from this dialogue in relation to my astonishments. I left and start from the premise that an intelligence general, who led the SRI for 12 years, can be a bandit, but not a chicken keeper. Or in this file is presented a Coldea of 2 lei. We discussed the matter of his presence at UNTOLD in Dubai. He told me verbatim that he went because he has a daughter who is a big fan of someone who sang there and that, for her to enter, because she is a minor, the authorities in Dubai required the presence and written consent of the father. I discussed the story with Hideg and I understood that this gentleman followed him for about 7 months, through mutual friends, and that he met him when he was leaving a restaurant. He would have reached out to Hideg and told him that he knew about his case, Coldea claiming to have a witness to the one who led him. Another issue I tried to clarify is the story with that Mr. Tocaci. I understood from the discussion with Mr. Coldea that he only saw him at the hearings. I was amazed. Coldea also said that he, as an officer, trusts the Romanian rule of law. This was the dialogue. I told him that this image was created for him that you are leading Romania. He said: 'I rule Romania, and then I am untouchable, including the DNA; or I don't drive, and then…'. He told me he didn't even know about some of the characters involved. He said that he saw Nicușor Dan a few times, for example,” told Ion Cirstoiu.
Questionable links
Recently, Florian Coldea was placed under judicial control, for influence peddling, together with the former head of the legal department of the SRI, Dumitru Dumbravă, and the lawyer Doru Trăilă, the charges being related to a consulting contract to obtain a favorable decision for the man of affairs Cătălin Hideg, who is also a whistleblower in this case.
According to public information, before being appointed prime minister, Ludovic Orban was an employee of lawyer Doru Trăilă, ex-husband of PNL deputy Cristina Trăilă.
“CI agree that the salary is confidential. A decent and reasonable salary. Anyway, from Monday I will no longer be employed at this private company (…) Always, the money I earned, I earned in relations with private companies”said Ludovic Orban at the time, according to Gândul.ro.
According to the cited source, at that time, Dumitru Dumbravă was also collaborating with the company led by Doru Trăilă, as an anti-corruption expert.
The information is also confirmed by the declaration of assets of the former prime minister submitted in December 2019, where he mentions that he collected 9000 lei annually from the company SCP Doru Trăia & Asociații (Bucharest, Sector 1, cal. Griviței no. 54), for technical consultancy . And according to the asset declarations submitted in April and December 2020, Ludovic Orban's salary at this company had increased 10 times, reaching 90,239 lei (net) annually.
Currently, the formation established by Ludovic Orban after leaving the PNL, Forța Dreptei, is part, along with the USR and the PMP, of the United Right Alliance, which supports Nicușor Dan for a new mandate at the capital's mayor's office.
