Former Romanian ministers suspected of COVID-19 vaccine procurement misconduct

Former prime minister Florin Cîțu and former health ministers Vlad Voiculescu and Ioana Mihăilă allegedly procured many more COVID-19 doses than necessary, according to Romania’s National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA), which on Thursday formally requested their immunity be lifted.

Between January and May 2021, the three officials allegedly procured a significantly larger quantity of vaccine doses (Pfizer and Moderna) than necessary, according to anti-corruption prosecutors.

Romania had informed the European Commission of 10.7 million eligible vaccine recipients, so the authorities contracted over 37 million doses before 1 January 2021.

But the anti-corruption prosecutors claim that “two of the three individuals under consideration for criminal prosecution, assisted by the third, purportedly facilitated and authorised the payment for an additional purchase of 52,805,690 vaccine doses”.

Valued at over €1 billion, plus VAT, this purchase “constitutes a damage to the state budget”, it adds.

The procurement was executed “in violation of legal provisions and without supporting documents or analyses demonstrating the necessity of the acquisition,” the anti-corruption prosecutors add.

But Voiculescu asserts that decisions on vaccine purchases were “exclusively made by the prime minister at that time”. “There are recorded government meetings and documents proving the prime minister’s involvement”.

Voiculescu also questioned the timing of such a probe, for which he rejects any element of corruption. He also believes he cannot be looked into right now as he has only recently launched his campaign for the 2024 EU elections, for which he is second on the USR list.

Cîțu, now a senator, might see his immunity lifted with the support of liberal senators, according to political sources.

But former USR member and current REPER member Ioana Mihăilă told Digi 24 that “it is the right of authorised institutions to investigate”.

As for the two former health ministers, President Klaus Iohannis is in charge of lifting their immunity.

In October 2022, The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) confirmed that it is investigating the acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines in the EU.

(Cătălina Mihai | Euractiv.ro)