Ludovic Orban, veiled criticism and a piece of advice for Nicușor Dan: “I hope it doesn't go to his head. There is a risk!”

The former presidential adviser on internal policy issues, Ludovic Orban, launched a series of warnings to Nicușor Dan, in an interview for News.ro, stating that there are people around him who have an interest in breaking him from reality.

Although he says the working relationship was “very good” during the short time he was active at Cotroceni, Orban said he has not spoken to the head of state since he was dismissed almost two weeks ago.

Asked if Nicușor Dan changed after being installed in Cotroceni, Orban avoided a direct answer.

“He's in a new position… I hope he won't be changed, I hope he won't go to his head. There is a risk! A wise man said that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I hope he resists… let's say, the corruption inherent in exercising the most important position in the state. Let him remain modest and down to earth! That's what I hope,” declared Orban.

Orban criticizes Dan's slowness

The President of Forța Dreptei also commented on a rumor circulating in the political environment regarding Nicușor Dan's relationship with the intelligence services, being asked if he was “wrapped up” by the services.

“I hope not! I hope not! But, objectively, if I were the president, I would have immediately changed the services! SRI, SIE, SPP… Because that's normal, that's natural! To new times, new people!”, replied the former PNL leader.

Orban has criticized the lack of rapid change and says the law enforcement agencies are operating with leaders who have been in office “for decades,” which he considers abnormal.

“Each president has a certain requirement and a certain vision in terms of the functioning of the services. The services, however, depend on the president and the president is the one who has to give the direction! Normally, I would have expected changes to occur. It is true that it is a little more complicated political situation, but on the other hand I would have treated it as a priority and I would have spent all the energy to negotiate with the majority coalition the appointment as quickly as possible so much so that, for example, at SRI, 2 years have passed since we have not had a civil director!”, said Nicușor's former advisor Dan.

About the head of the SPP, Lucian Pahonțu, Orban states that “he was a good manager”, but suggested that the 20 years at the head of the institution are too many. “The SPP is a bit too strong an institution for my taste,” added the former prime minister.

Orban's advice to Dan

Asked if Nicușor Dan could turn into a “Iohannis 2.0”, as some critics suggest, Orban said it was premature to draw conclusions.

“It is too early to make an assessment! Besides, Iohannis had two faces. One was his face in the first term and even in the first year of the second term, and another was his face after he made the catastrophic decision to betray his supporters and bring the PSD back to power. Basically, he brought the PSD back into play, gave the PSD power again. There were two different phases of Iohannis. Of course, even now I don't know what his true face is. I'm inclined to think that rather his second face, the face of the last 4 years”, said the leader of Forța Dreptei.

Orban also gave advice to Nicușor Dan, hinting that those around him might try to isolate him.

“What I suggest to Nicusor Dan is to do everything possible to stay down to earth, not to allow himself to be surrounded by the cocoon in which, in general, the president of Romania is put by the people who are around him and who have every interest in breaking him from reality. The more he stays down to earth and more attentive to reality, even when reality is not convenient, the better he will be able to find solutions to give the right direction Romania”, added the former prime minister.

Appointments to SRI and SIE, postponed

Asked by journalists when he will appoint new heads of SIE and SRI, President Nicușor Dan declared in the middle of the week that this will happen “probably at the beginning of next year”.

As early as June, President Nicușor Dan said in a press conference that a civil director is needed at SRI and that “a new SIE director is very likely needed.” SIE is led, since 2018, by Gabriel Vlase, former PSD parliamentarian.

On July 30, Nicușor Dan said that he had “three, four names” in mind for the head of the SRI. Also then, he said he would name the service chiefs “in the coming weeks.”