RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

The Romanian Intelligence Services

Romanian Intelligence Service chief George Maior tendered his resignation on Tuesday, raising questions among the media about his motive.

The Romanian Intelligence Services
The Romanian Intelligence Services

, 28.01.2015, 13:34

The management positions of Romania’s domestic and foreign intelligence services are vacant at present. After Teodor Melescanu had stepped down from the helm of the Romanian Foreign Intelligence Service in October 2014, George Maior, the Romanian Intelligence Service chief did the same thing on Tuesday. Bound by its NATO commitments to ensure a civilian, democratic management of its intelligence services, Romania has to appoint two new intelligence chiefs as soon as possible. Under the law, president Klaus Iohannis is due to make a nomination, which will subsequently require the approval of Parliament and the country’s Supreme Defence Council.



Meanwhile, Maior’s resignation has prompted heated debates in Bucharest, where the official reason behind this move is still unknown to the public. Political pundits suspect Maior’s departure may be linked with the Constitutional Court’s decision to dismiss the so-called “Big Brother” law package on privacy and online security. The package includes the data retention law, the law on prepay telephone cards and the law on cyber security. Prior to his resignation, Maior said that without these laws Romania would be faced with an unprecedented legal vacuum in its recent 25-year history, which might endanger the safety of its citizens.



Although denouncing pressure form the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Constitutional Court claims however that it rejected the laws purely because they were in breach of constitutional provisions on the rule of law and the principle of legality, as well as of other rights, such as the right to intimate, family and private life and the secrecy of correspondence. The Court has also argued that it is not the remit of the National Centre for Cyber Security, an entity currently subscribed to the Romanian Intelligence Service and employing military personnel, to safeguard all these rights, but that it falls on the national authority on cyber security, which should be a civilian institution, to do so.



In another development, MP Cezar Preda, who sits on the Committee for Parliamentary Control of the Romanian Intelligence Service, claims that the laws George Maior advocated are necessary and will remain a top priority for Parliament.


Cezar Preda: “The chairman of our committee and political party leaders have expressed their belief that this country needs these laws, and that they will be quickly submitted to debate, so that the Court and all citizens should stop perceiving it as a piece of legislation infringing on their rights, but one that ensures the safety of all”.



We recall that after the anti-communist revolution of 1989, the Romanian Intelligence Service and the Romanian Foreign Intelligence Service have so far had 5 and 7 chiefs respectively with the rank of Minister.


Photo: ©European Union, 2017, Source: EC - Audiovisual Service Photographer: Mauro Bottaro
Today in the News Monday, 28 April 2025

The 20th anniversary of a historic treaty

It’s been 20 years since Romania signed its EU accession treaty, which allowed it to officially become a member of the European Union on 1st...

The 20th anniversary of a historic treaty
Credits: Facebook/Sorin Grindeanu
Today in the News Monday, 28 April 2025

Additional bridges over Prut River

Romania and the Republic of Moldova will soon be connected by a new bridge over the Prut. The new bridge, for which construction works started last...

Additional bridges over Prut River
Mircea Fechet (Photo: gov.ro)
Today in the News Friday, 25 April 2025

The Environment Fund Administration gets record budget

The Environment Fund Administration this year received from the government a record budget for investments, worth over 3.2 billion euros. The money...

The Environment Fund Administration gets record budget
Minister of Education and research, Daniel David
Today in the News Friday, 25 April 2025

Measures for the Romanian education

During Thursday’s meeting, the Romanian government discussed several laws related to education. They established the legal framework for...

Measures for the Romanian education
Today in the News Thursday, 24 April 2025

A new law on the magistrates’ pensions

There are several occupational categories in Romania whose employees are usually retiring under the age of 50 and whose pensions aren’t exclusively...

A new law on the magistrates’ pensions
Today in the News Thursday, 24 April 2025

Downward forecast revision from the World Bank

According to its latest report, the World Bank expects growth in developing economies in Europe and Central Asia to slow down to 2.5% in 2025-2026...

Downward forecast revision from the World Bank
Today in the News Wednesday, 23 April 2025

From budget deficit to governmental debt

  The Romanian finance ministry reiterates Romania’s commitment to meet the 7% of GDP deficit target at the end of the year, and promises...

From budget deficit to governmental debt
Today in the News Wednesday, 23 April 2025

Romanian – German Friendship Day

A year ago, former Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, himself an ethnic German from Transylvania, promulgated the Law establishing April 21 as...

Romanian – German Friendship Day

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company