Luxury perfumes, clothing, handbags, cosmetics, a bra costing over 1,000 lei, and expensive decorative items. All were purchased using the budget of the National Meteorology Administration (ANM), using the institution’s cards, according to the results of a check carried out by the Ministry of Environment.
The findings were made public on Saturday by Minister of Environment, Diana Buzoianu, who announced that she would send the report to the General Prosecutor’s Office and requested the resignation of the ANM’s leadership.
The General Director of ANM, Elena Mateescu, responded in a statement that she had notified the Police as early as August 12, following an internal audit, and had informed the minister. However, she does not explain who used the cards, who benefited from the purchases, and how the expenses were approved. Mateescu has been at the helm of ANM since 2016.
Separate from the procurement scandal, a European project worth over 50 million euros, carried out by ANM, is subject to preliminary checks by the Department for Anti-Fraud Fight (DLAF), according to an investigation published by Context.ro.
Five institution cards used for shopping
According to Diana Buzoianu, the checks began a few weeks ago, following several complaints received by the ministry. The control body found that five ANM cards were used for the purchase of luxury clothing and accessories, intimate lingerie, cosmetics, and decorative items.
Among the examples presented by the minister are dresses, pajamas, high-heeled shoes, fringed footwear, handbags, scented candles, and ornamental pots worth thousands of lei.
Expenses made in 2025:
- 119,750 lei on perfumes;
- 85,290 lei on luxury clothing and accessories;
- 38,687 lei on room fresheners;
- 30,052 lei on decorations and accessories for rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens;
- 11,666 lei on cosmetics;
- 11,545 lei on three smart watches and accessories;
- 9,350 lei on two floral arrangements;
- 6,381 lei on two ornamental pots.
For 2026, the list includes 103,143 lei for luxury clothing and accessories, another 8,742 lei in a separate category of clothing items, 12,619 lei for perfumes, 14,216 lei for cosmetics, and 4,311 lei for room fresheners.
In total, the examples disclosed amount to 455,752 lei: 312,721 lei for 2025 and 143,031 lei for 2026. Buzoianu specifies that the revelations represent only a part of the control findings.
Buzoianu requests the resignation of the leadership and refers the case to the Prosecutor's Office
The Minister of Environment announced that the report will be sent to the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice and requested the resignation of the ANM's leadership.
“I have received several complaints that were the basis for the request to conduct this audit within ANM, but I could never have imagined that such absurdities and such a mockery with public funds could be discovered following any audit.
Under these circumstances, considering that these aspects are only a small part of the control findings, in any normal state, the ANM leadership should resign today.
If this does not happen, on Monday we will urgently convene a meeting with the legal team from the Ministry of Environment to analyze all legal avenues we can pursue.”
Elena Mateescu's Response: an internal audit and a report from August
In a statement to the press, Elena Mateescu stated that on August 12, 2026, she filed a report at Police Section 2 in Bucharest following an internal audit conducted at ANM. The institution's director requested the verification of certain activities and the determination of any legal measures. The ANM director claims to have informed Diana Buzoianu as well.
“Considering that there is an ongoing investigation, we cannot disclose details regarding this action. We await the investigation results and the resolution of the reported issues,” stated Elena Mateescu.
A European project worth over 50 million euros, verified by DLAF
Separate from the procurement scandal, the Department for Anti-Fraud Fight (DLAF) is verifying a European project worth over 50 million euros, carried out by ANM for the modernization of meteorological monitoring and warning systems, according to an investigation by Context.ro.
The checks also concern the construction of an agrometeorological center in Bucharest, whose contractual value increased from 4.6 to 5.5 million euros. The execution period was also extended from 17 to 24 months.
DLAF specified that the checks are preliminary and will notify the competent authorities if irregularities requiring legal measures are discovered. To date, no personal accusations have been announced against Elena Mateescu regarding this project.
Who is Elena Mateescu
Elena Mateescu has been leading the National Meteorology Administration since 2016, but her entire professional career is linked to this institution. She graduated from the Faculty of Agronomy in 1990, the year she also started working at ANM. She worked as an agronomist engineer and researcher, then headed the Agrometeorology Laboratory between 2004 and 2011. From 2011 to 2016, she held the position of executive director before becoming the general director.
According to the asset declaration filed in June 2026, Elena Mateescu earned 269,402 lei net in the last reported fiscal year from her position as general director of ANM, equivalent to over 50,000 euros, as reported by G4Media. This amount is supplemented by 24,804 lei for being a full member of the "Gheorghe Ionescu-Șișești" Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences and 1,350 lei from her activity as a university lecturer.
The ANM director owns two apartments in Bucharest, with areas of 59 and 57 square meters, purchased in 1992 and 2022, respectively, as well as a Fiat Tipo car manufactured in 2016. She has savings of over 343,000 lei and approximately 3,100 euros in her bank accounts.