Romanian agriculture agency heads suspended after DNA indictment

Romania's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development suspended the directors general of the Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture (APIA) and the National Phytosanitary Authority (ANF) after the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) charged them with abuse of office. APIA director Adrian Pintea, a former state secretary, and ANF director Romeo Șoldea face accusations of instigating and committing continuous service abuse for personal benefit.

Interim leadership was appointed: Kerekes Melinda Klara, director of the Economic Directorate, will act as APIA director until 31 July 2026, while ANF will be overseen by deputy director Nechifor Ramona Ionela and laboratory director Manole Filofteia. Prosecutors also placed a seizure on assets of the two officials amounting to 148,542 lei.

The suspension follows legal provisions allowing the automatic suspension of public employees subject to criminal proceedings, ensuring continuity of the institutions' functions despite the indictments.