Nicușor Dan stated that the presence of SPP chief Lucian Pahonțu at a dinner with politicians and representatives of the Church is not relevant

President Nicușor Dan said Tuesday evening at Cotroceni Palace that he does not consider it relevant that Lucian Pahonțu, head of the Protection and Guard Service (SPP), attended a dinner held in Timișoara last autumn alongside the head of state, local politicians and Church representatives.

Asked by journalist Sebastian Zachmann of Recorder why Lucian Pahonțu sat at the table and whether it is normal for the head of an agency with intelligence-gathering responsibilities to attend such a meeting, Nicușor Dan replied that the event brought together approximately 15 people.

The president said that representatives of the clergy, local politicians and members of the presidential administration attended the dinner. During the exchange, he maintained that the SPP is not a secret service, but a guard service.

The journalist pointed out that the law also assigns intelligence-gathering responsibilities to the SPP. Nicușor Dan confirmed this, but repeated that Pahonțu’s presence at the table was not relevant. The discussion took place during a press conference held Tuesday evening.