Economists say political appointments at the helm of state-held companies have disastrous consequences for the economy, but the situation can only be regulated through maximum transparency and by defining a minimum level of professional competence as opposed to the almost complete opaqueness that is currently true of such appointments.
The Board of Directors is vital in any company because it has the power to appoint the general manager of a company, approve the manager’s policies, make sure that budget targets are met, check spending efficiency and bring executives to account for potential abuses.
“Ionut Gogu’s term in the Board of Directors of Posta Romana was only two-month long, and in order to rule out any exaggerated interpretation, we specify that his withdrawal has to do with strictly personal reasons. His presence in the Board of Directors of Posta Romana was perfectly legal, with Gogu being in no way incompatible with the position, according to legislation in force,” the Communications Ministry said on Friday, when it announced Gogu’s resignation (which it said had occurred a day before, i.e. on the very day ZF asked the minister what competences qualified Gogu to be a member in the Posta Romana’s Board of Directors.
According to the Penal Code, a civil servant taking part in a decision in the wake of which a person with whom the civil servant had a commercial or a working relationship received material gains in the past five years is punishable by six months to five years in prison.
The situation is not singular. Vreme’s predecessor as minister, Gabriel Sandu, appointed his then future wife to Romtelecom’s Board of Directors. After the news appeared in the media, she was replaced from that position, but continued to act as Sandu’s personal advisor.