Prime Minister Bolojan signs decision to dismiss Consumer Protection's head from office

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan signed on Wednesday the decision to dismiss Cristian Popescu Piedone from the position of president of the National Authority for Consumer Protection (ANPC).

The Government's spokesperson Ioana Dogioiu stated that the decision of the Prime Minister was taken after analyzing the documents received from the ANPC and the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), which show that Piedone can no longer fulfill his duties.

The duties of president of the ANPC will be taken over by the vice president of the Authority, Sebastian Ioan Hotca, until the appointment of a new head of the institution in accordance with the law.

Cristian Popescu Piedone has been placed under judicial control by anti-corruption prosecutors in a case in which he is accused of having warned a hotel in Sinaia that they were going to carry out an inspection there.

Among the obligations that Cristian Popescu Piedone has within the judicial control is that of not carrying out the activity in the exercise of which he committed the act, namely that of president of the National Authority for Consumer Protection.

According to the DNA, prosecutors from the National Anticorruption Directorate - Anti-Corruption Section have ordered the initiation of criminal proceedings and the taking of judicial control measures for a period of 60 days, starting with Tuesday, against Cristian Victor Popescu Piedone for committing the crime of using, in any way, directly or indirectly, information that is not intended for advertising or allowing unauthorized persons access to this information.

While under judicial control, Cristian Popescu Piedone must comply with a series of obligations: to appear whenever he is summoned to the criminal investigation body, not to communicate directly or indirectly, in any way, with the persons mentioned in the ordinance ordering judicial control, not to leave the territory of Romania without the prior consent of the prosecutor and not to carry out the activity in the exercise of which he committed the act, namely that of president of the National Authority for Consumer Protection.