Romanian Defense Minister Ionuț Moșteanu resigned over false claims in his biography, marking the second time in as many weeks that a NATO country close to Russia has been forced to change its defense minister.
“Romania and Europe are under attack from Russia. Our national security must be protected at all costs. I do not want debates about my education and the mistakes I made many years ago to distract those who lead the country today from their difficult mission,” he said.
According to local media, Moșteanu had stated in his official biography that he had graduated from Ateneum University in Bucharest, even though he had never attended that school, reports euronews.ro.
He also added to his personal biography the Faculty of Automation at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, although he had interrupted his studies.
Moșteanu’s resignation, just months after taking office, comes after the dismissal of Dovilė Sakaliene as Lithuania’s defense minister over a disagreement over the Baltic state’s defense budget, and at a time when Europe is considering how to respond to intensified Russian hybrid attacks.
Romanian Economy Minister Radu Miruța is expected to temporarily take over as Defense Minister, the government announced.
Moșteanu’s departure comes at a time when Romania is facing regular incursions by Russian drones. Bucharest is also 48 hours away from a deadline by which EU countries must submit to the European Commission a plan for how they will spend funds from the EU’s SAFE program, which is based on loans for arms purchases.
Romania is expected to be the second largest beneficiary of this program, entitled to a share of the 16.6 billion euro fund. /Telegraph/