Elena Mateescu, first reaction to the luxury shopping scandal at ANM: “I filed a complaint with the Police”

The Director General of the National Meteorological Administration, Elena Mateescu, announces that she notified the Police on August 12, 2026, following an internal audit mission regarding activities carried out within the institution. The action was taken before the Minister of Environment, Diana Buzoianu, published the findings of a report by the Control Corps concerning purchases made with cards associated with the NMA account.

Mateescu specifies that the notification was filed with the Bucharest General Police Directorate, Section 2, specifically with the unit for investigating economic crime. She states that the investigation is ongoing and that she cannot provide details until the checks are completed.

According to the Minister of Environment, one of the NMA's five cards may have been used to purchase luxury products, including perfumes, clothing items, handbags, cosmetics, and accessories. For 2025, the report indicates expenses of 85,290 lei for clothing items and accessories, 119,750 lei for perfumes, and tens of thousands more lei for cosmetics, air fresheners, and decorations. Similar expenses were reported in 2026, amounting to more than 129,000 lei.

Diana Buzoianu announced that she would send the report to the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice and called for the resignation of the NMA leadership. The legality of the purchases is to be determined by the competent authorities.