Supreme Defense Council to discuss intelligence replacements

The Supreme Defense Council of Romania – CSAT debates the nominations of new heads at the Romanian Intelligence Service-SRI and the Foreign Intelligence Service-SIE on Monday after the directors of the two institutions resigned last week in a scandal sparked by the disappearance of businessman Omar Hayssam, suspected of terrorism.

Also on Monday, ex-SRI head Radu Timofte will be grilled in Parliament over the reasons of his resignation. Virgil Ardelean, head of the intelligence service of the Interior Ministry, will face a similar grilling.

The Romanian Presidency announced this weekend that the management of the SRI will be run by a new interim head, Mihai Florian Coldea, while SIE will be managed temporarily by its deputy head Silviu Predoiu.