Tough reform in diplomacy. Nicușor Dan announces that 40-50 ambassadors will be changed: “There must be brains to identify opportunities”
President Nicușor Dan announces an extensive reshuffle in Romania's diplomatic corps: between 40 and 50 ambassadors will be recalled to the country in the coming months, due to expired mandates and lack of involvement in promoting Romania's economic interests.
Nicusor Dan PHOTO: AFP
The head of state explained that the standard duration of an ambassador's mandate is four years, but in many cases this term was exceeded.
“I estimate that in March we will have 40, 50 important changes. Important capital cities follow. The usual term is four years for a diplomat. This term has expired, we were supposed to have changes after the elections in November 2025, but that did not happen, we will have changes in March 2026“, said the president.
Besides this administrative aspect, the main dissatisfaction concerns the economic activity of diplomatic missions.
“Broadly speaking, our diplomacy is professional, but economic diplomacy was lacking. Broadly speaking, the ambassador must go, see companies, identify opportunities. But there must also be a brain to identify these options. The mandate we will give them is that the economic part is extremely important in their activity”. said the president
According to Nicușor Dan, ambassadors must play an active role in promoting Romania's commercial interests, maintain a constant dialogue with the business environment of the host countries and identify opportunities for Romanian companies.
“There must be a vision that directs these people to do these activities, we did not have a vision. The new mandate will be that the economic part is very important“, stated the president, in an interview granted to Radio Romania Actualitătă.
Nicușor Dan recalled Dan Mihalache from the position of ambassador to Cyprus
A first decree has already been signed. The Presidential Administration announced the recall of Sorin-Dan Mihalache from the position of ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Romania in the Republic of Cyprus.
Dan Mihalache was appointed ambassador of Romania to Cyprus by decree 27 of January 22, 2021, signed by former president Klaus Iohannis, according to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Previously, between June 2016 and December 2020, he held the position of Ambassador of Romania to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
