The head of Romarm accuses the Minister of Defense Radu Miruţă of “slips of language” and “attitude of a derbedeu”
The tensions between the head of the Romarm company and the interim Minister of Defense, Radu Miruță, have escalated into a real war of declarations, marked by accusations regarding the dignitary's way of communication, on the one hand, and by contesting the appointment of the director of the state company, on the other.
Răzvan Pîrcălăbescu attacks the Minister of Defense. PHOTO: Facebook/Răzvan Pîrcălăbescu
On Tuesday, May 26, the general director of Romarm, Răzvan Pîrcălăbescu, reacted harshly to the minister's statements, in an already tense context, in which both administrative aspects and personal accusations are invoked.
Chief Romarm criticized the minister's communication style and accused him of language slips, using, in turn, rather harsh expressions.
“The public communication of a minister should be oriented towards solutions, avoiding slips of language or attitudes unworthy of the position, not of a brat or a brat”. stated Răzvan Pîrcălăbescu, quoted by News.ro.
The conflict broke out after Radu Miruță raised questions about the way in which Pîrcălăbescu was appointed to head Romarm, referring to possible incompatibilities and the carrying out of simultaneous activities within the Romanian Agency for Investments and Foreign Trade (ARICE).
The Minister of Defense qualified the situation as “illegal, impossible” and announced that he had sent to DNA documents related to the appointment procedure of the company's general manager.
In reply, Răzvan Pîrcălăbescu categorically rejects these accusations and claims that the selection procedure for the position of general manager of Romarm was carried out in accordance with the legislation in force.
“Regarding the competition for the position of general director of Romarm, it was conducted in full legality, strictly respecting the provisions of GEO 109/2011 on corporate governance, following the selection procedure of AMEPIP”, stated the general director of Romarm.
He explained that the cited legislation is part of the commitments assumed by Romania at the European level and within the PNRR and OECD processes and invited those who have doubts to consult the documents of the procedure, claiming that they confirm full compliance with the legal framework and corporate governance standards.
Accusations with a long fight
Beyond the administrative dispute, Răzvan Pîrcălăbescu draws attention to the fact that such public statements can affect the image and operation of the entire national defense industry, which he considers essential for state security.
The director of ROMARM accuses that the defense industry was not consulted for the SAFE program: “We have no information that domestic production would be done”
“This type of statements, however, have the opposite effect for the entire local industry – they place in a derisory territory all the initiatives for the revitalization of the defense industry, which is an attack on the national security of the country”, he explained, insisting that the role of a minister requires balance and responsibility in the public space, not messages that can undermine trust in the state's strategic institutions.
“The country's highest defense role requires responsibility, balance and respect towards the strategic capabilities of the Romanian state, including towards the national defense industry and towards the people who carry out their activities in this field. You cannot ask for the trust and respect of the military, while the public messages sent make vulnerable or discredit an essential sector for Romania's security and sovereignty”. pointed out the Romarm director.
“The public communication of a minister should be oriented towards solutions, avoiding slips of language or attitudes unworthy of the position he occupies, not of a slob or a slob”. he insisted.
In the same context, Răzvan Pîrcălăbescu wanted to mention that many of the structural problems of the defense industry, such as underinvestment or infrastructure wear and tear, are inherited from previous periods, and recovery and modernization measures were initiated during his mandate. He claims that programs are underway to streamline production, attract investment and integrate industrial capabilities into programs relevant to the needs of the military.
Răzvan Pîrcălăbescu counterattacks
The conflict also took on a personal dimension, after the director of Romarm launched, in turn, direct accusations against the minister Radu Miruță, requesting public clarifications on some controversial issues reported in the public space.
“I am referring, explicitly, to the information regarding the way in which certain legal and administrative situations would have been managed, including accusations related to the procrastination of some procedures within DIICOT until the prescription intervened, to the way of communication of some information to the Ministry of Justice, as well as to uncertainties regarding the combination of qualities – of parliamentarian, technical expert and authorized natural person. Also, legitimate questions were raised regarding the regime of incompatibilities and the transparency of some patrimonial situations, including those related to the family home, subjects that certainly require clear and documented explanations”,
stated Răzvan Pîrcălăbescu.
