Romanian Parliament votes former minister to take the helm of Foreign Intelligence

President Traian Basescu named Ungureanu on November 26 as his choice to head SIE. The Deputies Chamber and the Senate voted today with 295 votes in favor and 23 against. According to the law, Ungureanu was elected through secret vote.

Romania's largest opposition group, the Social Democrat Party, previously said will not vote Ungureanu unless the national security law package is adopted while the Liberals were skeptical when hearing the news about Ungureanu's nomination.

The national security laws were tossed away months ago because of political disorder in the country. PSD's head, Mircea Geoana pointed the necessity of resuming debates on the bills in order to create a proper legislative frame before choosing a head for such an important body.

Ungureanu is a historian reputed for his pro-American stance. He is 39. In 2005 he signed a 10-year agreement with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to set up U.S. bases on Romanian soil.

The post heading the SIE has been vacant since its former chief, journalist Claudiu Saftoiu, resigned in March after he alleged that the service had illegally tapped the telephones of Romanian and foreign suspects with permission from prosecutors, instead of a judge's warrant as required by law. He later retracted his statement.

Source: NewsIn