BNR Clarifies Position Following Senator Zamfir's Criticism

The Romanian National Bank (BNR) issued a statement on Tuesday to clarify its official communication procedures, following a public controversy sparked by PSD Senator Daniel Zamfir. The issue arose from comments made by Eugen Rădulescu, an advisor to BNR Governor Mugur Isărescu, on his personal Facebook account.

According to the BNR, opinions expressed on personal social media platforms do not reflect the institution's official stance. The statement emphasized, "Messages and opinions on personal social media are personal."

The controversy began after Rădulescu warned of potential economic consequences, including the loss of PNRR funds and Romania's deteriorating credit rating. He accused the PSD of mismanaging public finances, stating in a post that, "We will eat grass and tree bark," if current policies continue. This prompted Zamfir to label Rădulescu as a "BNR fat cat" and a "former Marxist," demanding his dismissal from Isărescu.

Rădulescu's comments included warnings about capital outflows, depreciation of the leu, and rising inflation, which he attributed to the PSD's "irresponsible 2024 public finance policy." In response to Zamfir, Rădulescu criticized politicians for creating "scandal" instead of addressing economic issues.

The BNR reiterated that only its Board members or officially mandated representatives are authorized to speak on its behalf, and official messages are disseminated through the BNR website and institutional social media channels. Despite Zamfir's demands, the BNR has not announced any measures against Rădulescu nor responded to the dismissal request.