Head of Romanian Intelligence Service: Politicians Expect Us to Suggest Decisions

In his last public speech, the head of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) offered the gist of how politics is played in Romania: he admitted that politicians expect others to take or suggest decisions.

At the 15th anniversary of the Security and Intelligence Studies at the Babeş-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, the head of the SRI, Eduard Hellvig, made certain statements that captured the attention of the Romanian public and media.

Eduard Hellvig stated that the significant gain of his mandate at the head of the SRI was the separation from politics, which he considers absolutely normal in a democratic society. In his opinion, politics and intelligence-gathering activity should not overlap, arguing that too many politicians, in previous decades, got used to receiving indications or suggestions about what to do.

However, the great gain of this mandate was the separation from politics, absolutely normal in a democratic society. Policy and information gathering activity must not overlap. Too often, however, past mistakes also affect the behaviour of those in the present. Too many politicians, in previous decades, have become accustomed to receiving “directions” or “suggestions” about what to do. (…) Too many want others to make decisions for them, too many even expect to receive suggestions from secret services. We will only strengthen democracy when we stimulate each institution to assume the mandate it has, without abuses and without excesses.

Eduard Hellvig, director of Romanian Intelligence Service

The SRI leader pointed out a severe problem in the Romanian political society, although he stated it too politely. Romanian politicians proved too often incapable of handling the tasks deriving from their leadership positions. Romania has people in leading positions who are still expecting directions instead of making decisions independently.

Even so, with the head of the Romanian Intelligence Service unhappy with this situation, we must ask ourselves: how many times did the secret service interfere with political decisions in Romania? And most important, has the current leader of the SRI succeeded in separating the two activities, the political and the intelligence-gathering?

No doubt that Romanian political parties are paying the press media to improve their image. In this case, Romanians should ask themselves: who are the people who actually make the decisions instead of those voted for, and why are there incompetent people in leadership positions?

Why are they voted, then? Why do Romanian people offer their votes and trust to those who cannot take matters into their own hands, let alone do their tasks? Who are responsible for the situation in Romania – politicians or secret service agencies?