Romania’s Fmr Fin Min Denies Incompatibility With Public Office

Romania's National Integrity Agency, which screens politicians' wealth and interest statements, said Friday Pogea was incompatible with public office for two months because he was manager of a company between December 22, 2008 and February 26, 2009, when he was the country's finance minister.

"I was never incompatible. When I became finance minister I resigned from the position of general manager. (...) This issue surfaced back when I took over as minister and I thought things had been cleared then," Pogea said, explaining the two-month period was due to the Trade Registry.

Pogea was state minister in 2005 and 2005 and finance minister between December 2008 and December 2009.

The integrity agency looked into Pogea's case following media reports alleging the minister was unfit for public office. The agency found the former minister is the owner of SC GP Management Experts SRL, a business managed by his wife Nina Pogea. The company halted activity for two years on November 1, 2008.

Between August 2004 and November 2005 and between August 2007 and February 2009, Pogea was manager of SC Titan Mar SRL, owned by Romania's Economy Minister Adriean Videanu.

The former minister may contest the integrity agency's accusations within 15 days.

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