SIS director to be named by President and confirmed by Parliament

The director of the Security and Intelligence Service (SIS) will be appointed by the President and confirmed by Parliament. A bill to this effect was given a first reading in the June 18 sitting of the legislature, IPN reports.

Sergiu Litvinenko, chairman of the legal commission for appointments and immunities, said the bill modifies the procedure for appointing and dismissing the SIS head. “The President will propose a candidate, while Parliament will take a final decision as to this candidate,” he stated.

Democratic MP Alexandru Jizdan said the Democratic parliamentary group does not support the bill as this is an attempt to transform the SIS into the branch of a foreign intelligence service.

Igor Grosu, of the Bloc ACUM, stated that if this bill is passed, the institution will be definitively freed from the control of a party that turned this into a stakeout instrument. Also, Parliament will be able to ensure a balance and more rigorous control. This way the SIS will ensure the national security and will prevent the usurpation of the power from outside.