Ciolos: Marian Neacsu, convicted criminal; conflict of interests, theft and violation of citizens' trust in state

Chairman of Save Romania Union (USR) Dacian Ciolos says Marian Neacsu, backed by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) as Secretary General of the Government, is a convicted criminal, and his appointment violates the citizens' trust in the state, agerpres reports.

"The conflict of interests is theft and violation of the citizens' trust in the state and in its representatives, Mr. Ciolacu! Mr. Marian Neacsu, whom you defend in this way in order to be able to plant him at the General Secretariat of the Government, is criminally convicted. Maybe you don't think it's theft, because theft, according to PSD, is when someone puts their hand in their own pocket. Or you and your colleagues from PSD want us to believe that stealing from the state or the misappropriation of public money through trickery doesn't count, it is natural, the purpose of the political game," the USR leader writes on Facebook.

Dacian Ciolos adds that Marian Neacsu hired his daughter in the parliamentary cabinet and that in this way he "was moving the money from the budget received from Parliament into his family's pocket", violating the law, but also the principles of morality.

"It was immoral, because that money was for a counselor to help Marian Neacsu carry out his activity as MP, not to give presents to his daughter. Remember this when you see that no one in this country thinks that Parliament deserves any bit of trust. It is your fault and your colleagues' fault: you have destroyed one by one the institutions of the Romanian democracy," Ciolos communicated to the PSD leader, Marcel Ciolacu.

The leader of the Save Romania Union adds that he would like to know the opinion of Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca about the appointment of Neacsu as secretary general.

"I understand that the PNL could not focus on the rapid reform because of us, of the USR. Is it reforming together with PSD the system by going back to the lining of people with criminal issues? I haven't seen any sign from PNL that it would be bothered by the appointment of Laura Vicol as president of the Parliamentary Legal Committee and I believe that the same deafening silence will accompany the appointment of Marian Neacsu to lead the General Secretariat. The peace of mind of those in PNL is paid with positions for criminals," Ciolos also writes..

PSD leader Marcel Ciolacu, declared, on Wednesday, that he assumes the appointment of Marian Neacsu in the position of Secretary General of the Government, showing that Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca was informed about this proposal. According to Ciolacu, Neacsu's conviction for conflict of interest was "legally overcome".

Marian Neacsu is the Vice President of the National Energy Regulatory Authority. He was irrevocably sentenced in 2016 by the High Court of Cassation and Justice to six months in prison with suspension for conflict of interest for illegally hiring his daughter in his parliamentary office.