Many of Romania’s most powerful statesmen hold money in Austrian-owned banks. Neither of them went from chatter to outright boycotts, even though their party has encouraged this form of protest.
Nicolae Ciucă and Klaus Iohannis are clients of Austrian banks PHOTO Romanian government
If, in terms of public communication, the formations and some party leaders have not held back in calling for the boycott of Austrian companies or banks with Austrian capital (Marcel Ciolacu, Sorin Grindeanu, etc.) following the refusal to join the Romania in Schengen, at a grassroots level the situation is nuanced. The PSD has promoted the boycott line, while the PNL has been more secretive, with political sources saying that “prudence” and “diplomacy” have been called upon at the top of the party.
The list of heads of state with open accounts or deposits in banks with Austrian capital is opened by the head of state, Klaus Iohannis. The president only has an account with the BCR (one of the two banks with Austrian capital) where, according to the latest statement of assets, he had 170,000 lei. The head of state declared himself against any form of boycott of companies and banks with Austrian capital.
However, even the premier Nicolae Ciucă only has private pensions and “other forms of accumulation”, with Raiffeisen (the second), worth about 120,000 lei. When asked by journalists if he will close accounts with this bank, the prime minister specified: “To carry out this operation I must have time to get to the bank. Up to now I haven’t even had time to go home”, adding that he will analyze and decide what to do.
Credits that remain
“Adevărul” consulted the asset declarations of the ministers and the leaders of the Parliament to identify those who go on the books of the banks with Austrian capital. Economy Minister Florin Spătaru has a current account at BCR, in which he declared around 140,000 lei last summer. He also has two loans from the same bank, one maturing in 2026, for 5,000 euros, the other maturing in 2036, for 33,000 lei. It is precisely the credit problem that keeps him tied to the bank. “I have a loan to the BCR. I have no way of quitting unless someone sponsors my credit. We just refinanced,” stressed the head of the Economy.
With the accounts, both at the BCR and at Raiffeisen, is the Minister of Agriculture, Petre Daea. He has a large lei account (38,932 lei) at BCR, but also a bank deposit (115,000 lei). In Raiffeisen, Daea had a current account of 7,900 lei, but also 4,019 euros. The Agriculture Minister also owes Raiffeisen a total of 67,800 lei “debts”. Daea answered us only to then hang up within seconds. Contacted by journalists, he did not provide any details.
One client with accounts that have substantial income is the Minister of Health, Alexandru Rafila. The official also has accounts at the BCR, but also at Raiffeisen. In the current account at the BCR he has 230,782 lei (according to the last balance sheet of the summer), while at Raiffeisen he has a bank deposit of around 200,000 euros, one of 120,000 lei, and in the current accounts he has one in lei of around 37,000 lei , one of 15,600 dollars and one in euros of 6,000 euros. Rafila did not answer whether he will make a decision on the accounts.
The Minister of Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Daniel Cadariu, has accounts only with Raiffeisen. More precisely, an account of 85,000 euros, one with 40,000 dollars and one in which he declared around 3,000 lei. Most likely he also has a loan of 98,136 lei, again with Raiffeisen, expiring in 2025. He didn’t offer a point of view either.
The sports minister, Eduard Novak (UDMR), has several accounts, one of which is solid at BCR. In it he raised 346,000 lei, according to the latest wealth declaration. Although he was asked for his point of view, through the spokesman, for several days, the minister did not make any clarifications.
Marcel Boloș, the head of European investments and projects, has only deposits with BCR, totaling about 65,000 lei. He publicly declared himself against any form of boycott of Austrian companies.
The situation at the top of Parliament
And among the MPs with executive positions, those who have bank accounts with Austrian capital are elected. Alexandra Presură (PSD), secretary of the Chamber, has an open card at the BCR, worth 36,000 lei. The Liberal Florin Alexe, Deputy Speaker of the Chamber, holds the main bank accounts and deposits at Raiffeisen. The strongest account is the euro account, in which he has 24,000 euros. When asked whether or not he will move his account, Alexe did not answer in communication with the newspaper “Adevărul”. And Daniel Suciu, vice president of the PSD section of the Chamber, has accounts opened with the BCR. “I confess I’ve thought about that, only I’ve had a loan to the BCR since 2013,” Suciu said, saying he doesn’t know if he can refinance a home loan.
From the Senate, the holder of an account with banks with Austrian capital is Alina Gorghiu, ad interim head of the forum. The account with the highest income is the one in lei, of Raiffeisen, where it has accumulated 280,000 lei, followed by the one in euros, 31,000. Gorghiu could not be contacted until the end of the edition.
