Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu resigned as leader of the Romanian Foreign Intelligence Office. The information was confirmed on Monday by the Presidency’s spokesperson, Madalina Dobrovolski.
„The Presidential Administration has received the resignation of Mr. Mihai Razvan Ungureanu. Romanian President accepted the resignation and the management of the office will be ensured by General Silviu Predoiu,” said Madalina Dobrovolski for Realitatea TV.
Mihai Razvan Ungureanu was voted by the Parliament as SIE Director on 30 June 2015, with the UNPR’s support. PSD and ALDE were officially against the appointment, but the vote result was as follows: 278 members of Parliament voted „for”, 6 „against” and 5 have not voted.
Mihai Razvan Ungureanu’s appointment as SIE Director has raised tensions within the political coalition supporting at the time Ponta government.
Liberal senator and first vice-president, Mihai Razvan Ungureanu was appointed in December 2014 personal advisor of President Klaus Johannis.
Over the last 6 months, media published information indicating that President Johannis would have asked Mihai Razvan Ungureanu to resign.
In April 2016, the DNA Chief Prosecutor criticized SIE for the lack of cooperation.
The reply came in the form of a press release issued by the institution led by Mihai Razvan Ungureanu, stating that the point of view of Codruţa Laura Kovesi „has been caused by a misunderstanding of the specific of the foreign intelligence activity / espionage”.
Mihai Razvan Ungureanu was SIE Director in the period 2007-2012, position which he quitted to take over the government under the PDL majority, following the cabinet Emil Boc.
Previously, M.R. Ungureanu was Foreign Minister in the Tariceanu cabinets, between 2004-2007.
Silviu Predoiu has been working with SIE since the office’s establishment. He also provided the interim management of the office for a few months, after former head’s resignation, Teodor Melescanu, who ran for President in 2014.
