Nicușor Dan presented the new country defense strategy: Public administration and corruption are vulnerabilities. SRI will get involved in the fight against corruption (Video)

President Nicușor Dan presented the new country defense strategy. The document will be put up for debate on Wednesday, will be reviewed on November 24 in the Supreme Council for Country Defense (CSAT), and will be presented in Parliament on November 27.

See HERE the project of the National Defense Strategy 2025-2030 open for public debate

An important element is that the strategy is presented from the citizen's perspective: "We do not want to defend the state, but the citizen," said the head of state.

Nicușor Dan explained that the document takes into account the international geo-political context, the changing realities, both economically and technologically.

According to the head of state, externally, Romania must maintain its partnerships, while internally, measures must be taken regarding some "vulnerabilities." Public administration and corruption are vulnerabilities addressed in the national defense strategy, stated Nicușor Dan.

Thus, the president specified that the new defense strategy of Romania will involve the intelligence services in combating corruption.

The head of state added that the services will not be involved in the criminal investigation stage and the judicial process, but will only gather data on this phenomenon.

Regarding the nomination of the heads of SRI (Romanian Intelligence Service) and SIE (Foreign Intelligence Service), the president said, "It has not been a concern of mine from the last conference until today, but it remains a concern."

Nicușor Dan also spoke about the judges' pensions and the decision of the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) to file a criminal complaint against Deputy Prime Minister Oana Gheorghiu.

Nicușor Dan disagrees with public pressure on magistrates. A judge complained that she is afraid to publicly declare she is a judge: That is not normal

The head of state said that the CSM's action of filing a criminal complaint against a political figure who expressed a political opinion was not the most balanced gesture, but he noted that in recent months there has been social pressure on magistrates.

Nicușor Dan also stated that there is a common understanding from all sides that the issue of judges' pensions needs to be resolved, and it is even better if this happens in November.

The head of state also discussed the municipal elections in the Capital City, stating that he wishes for the new mayor to bring order to finances, urban planning, and develop infrastructure.

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Spotmedia.ro presented, in LIVE TEXT format, the statements of President Nicușor Dan:

We are putting the National Defense Strategy up for debate today. We present it from the citizen's perspective. We do not want to defend the state, but the citizen living in this state.
The question is how much trust the citizen has in the state and the willingness to defend it. I don't know if the answer is the happiest one.
The strategy introduces a concept of solidary independence.
The strategy differs from previous ones because the context is different. The international order is being questioned. The war in Ukraine is an example. We see an increase in military tensions worldwide, a decrease in the capacity of international bodies to maintain the international order based on rules.
We then see an exponential technological growth, including AI, and we are no longer in a context where military power and defense capability are proportional to the economy and defense investments.
The global phenomenon of digitization and interaction with social networks give rise to disinformation, and we need specific defense measures prepared.
A novelty is, of course, the changing economic relationships. We see economic protectionism, a struggle for critical resources, and restricted access to critical resources.
Regarding what Romania needs to do, we must maintain partnerships, assert our interests within the EU, NATO.
I want to emphasize a few internal issues. Public administration has some problems, and somehow this was one of my shocks, surprises. The administration does not work with data, decisions are not data-driven. We do not see a great appetite for collaboration between institutions.
Another vulnerability is corruption, which weakens social cohesion. It is difficult to want to defend a corrupt state. On the other hand, it has consequences in the economy, people's prosperity, and the quality of administration.
Some opportunities I want to highlight. Externally, our geographic position offers us an opportunity.
The global demand for military equipment offers opportunities for our country. We have tradition, professionals, locations, and technology companies.
Commercial diplomacy is extremely important; we need to progress to be able to use the potential of our private economy.
In the economic area, a security-related aspect is the need to stop tax evasion.
Regarding the phenomenon of corruption, I mentioned 3 things. An integrated approach, collaboration between all institutions with these attributions. Involvement of data services in collecting data on this phenomenon and only that. Correcting the administrative mechanisms that delay the resolution of corruption matters.
This document will be open for public debate, on November 24, there will be a CSAT meeting where it will be approved, and on November 26, I will present the project in Parliament.
Tomorrow, in Cincu, a highly important military exercise will conclude. Over 5,000 soldiers participated in it.
There is concern that what happened with judges' pensions will also happen in the Ministry of Internal Affairs or services. It will happen at some point in these areas. There is political agreement at all levels for this to happen in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, services. It is not a reason for people to retire.

Questions:

How much trust can people have in the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM)?

The action of the CSM to file a criminal complaint for a person expressing an opinion was not the most balanced. There is a phenomenon in support of the CSM. It is represented by some judges who represent 5-6,000 magistrates. And for a long time, especially in recent months, there has been social pressure on magistrates; everything bad in this country happens because they have too high pensions. I spoke with a lady judge who told me: I tried to do my job, I attended all the training courses I could, to be professionally competent, to solve the problems I had to solve. Now, I am ashamed to publicly say that I am a judge. I am even afraid to publicly say that I am a judge. That is not normal.

What do you think about organizing a referendum on judges' pensions?

A referendum is a tool used when parts of society have divergent opinions on a certain issue, which is not the case here. Both society, the political class, and even the magistrates agree that it is not normal for pensions to be equal to salaries, so it is just a matter of legislative harmonization, of how to solve this problem. Therefore, a referendum is not necessary. Everyone in society has the same opinion on this issue.

In recent corruption cases, the names of several government members have appeared. Should changes be made to the government leadership?

We all knew there is corruption, people ready to give bribes. The good news is that state representatives acted correctly in these circumstances. There was no administrative decision in favor of a corrupt individual.

After yesterday's discussion, is there flexibility regarding the amount and transition law?

Yesterday's meeting lasted only an hour and a half; we started to get used to each other and understand each other. I cannot tell you exactly what was discussed. What I can tell you is that there is an understanding that this issue needs to be closed.

Do you not consider poverty a threat to national security? And if you do, why does it not appear in the strategy?

We will reflect in these 12 days on the question you have asked. I believe that poverty is a threat.

Is Chinese espionage considered in the strategy?

This strategy is a generic document; when it talks about espionage, it refers to anyone who could spy on us; I don't think we should individualize. Even though the word China does not appear very often in the strategy, it comes through when we talk about critical resource chains. There is a big spot there, China.

In short, on the one hand, any kind of threat must be handled by the responsible institutions; on the other hand, China is an important player in the world, especially in the economic area, and Romania's interactions must take into account its interest in the economic sphere. We should not break relationships; we need to find a balance.

You mentioned that intelligence services will collect data on corruption. How will you ensure they respect the limits?

The word corruption was also in the previous strategy but in some paragraphs. I wanted it to be a separate chapter because intelligence services operate according to certain plans. The implementation plan will include things that will explain much better what I said. If the need for legislative acts arises, we will do it. The will in this document is very clear. There is a phenomenon of corruption that we do not know enough about. To understand it better, we need to invest in services.

High Court of Cassation and Justice (ÎCCJ) has made public an agreement for justice and institutional stability that it wants to propose to you. The agreement would engage the fundamental powers in the state for the independence of the judiciary. Is such an agreement necessary, or are the principles in the Constitution sufficient?

I did not have this information. I was criticized by some judges the other day without any reason; I believe I was balanced in solving the problem in society. There have been, and there are, several decisions of the Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) that address power relationships. It never hurts to clarify some things; it would be useful for both sides to be more measured in their public expressions on this sensitive issue.

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Have you made progress in discussions regarding the nomination of the heads of SRI and SIE?

It has not been a concern of mine from the last conference until today, but it remains a concern.

Have you decided what to do with the donation money?

The money arrived about 2 or 3 days ago. If the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP) had refunded all the money, I would have remained with 2.5 million. AEP refunded me one million less. After I pay off the loans, I will be left with 1.5 million. We will contest the rest, and it will be a process that I believe will last 2 years. I maintain the idea of giving it to civic organizations, not social ones. I believe that not enough money is allocated to the civic sector. I would not want to choose myself but to hold a competition.

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When will you have an education advisor and when will you have discussions with the unions?

I said I would appoint an advisor, and you are right; I have not appointed one yet. The education advisor will be Sorin Costreie. As soon as he is appointed, he will contact the unions, the ministry, and request relevant data.

Have you received any information about Călin Georgescu being a collaborator of SIE?

I said we would come out with a report on the 2024 elections. For this report, there are several pieces of information, various types of information, including Mr. Georgescu's biography. When we release the report, you will have the answer to the question.

How do you comment on the situation with Lukoil Romania?

Lukoil has a refinery and around 100 gas stations. The share of gas stations is not important, but the refinery. It is closed for maintenance, but it does not affect the flow; however, in the medium and long term, if it were no longer to process, it would force us to import more. There is no risk of it being taken over by a Russian front company; we have a commission that analyzes all companies with strategic risk. There is also the possibility that it will be taken over by the Romanian state for a limited period.