Romania minister resignation follows Ionut Mosteanu’s admission of a false education claim as security tensions with Russia intensify.
Romania’s Minister of National Defence Ionut Mosteanu resigned on Friday after admitting he made what he called a “mistake” on his curriculum vitae by claiming he graduated from a university he never attended, as scrutiny mounted over alleged inaccuracies in his resume.
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Ionut Mosteanu announced his departure in a Facebook post, saying he did not want the escalating row to divert attention from Romania’s national security at a moment when the country, and Europe more broadly, face growing threats linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Romania has reported repeated drone incursions since the Russian invasion in 2022, with drone fragments landing on its territory on multiple occasions.
On Tuesday, authorities confirmed that a drone crashed in eastern Romania near the border with Ukraine.
Officials have also accused Moscow of hybrid attacks, including alleged interference in presidential elections last year that were subsequently annulled.
In his statement, Ionut Mosteanu said his resignation was necessary for the country to remain focused on its “difficult mission”, adding that Romania and Europe were “under attack from Russia” and that national security must be defended “at all costs”.
His language underscored the gravity of regional tensions and the importance of stable defence leadership.
Pressure intensified after a media investigation published on Thursday revealed that Ionut Mosteanu had listed a university degree he did not earn.
He apologised shortly after, describing the incident as an embarrassing oversight arising from a CV he assembled in 2016 using an online template. Despite the explanation, public criticism grew rapidly.
Ionut Mosteanu had been appointed defence minister in June following months of political deadlock and the formation of a new pro-European government.
His departure marks a significant setback for the administration at a sensitive time for NATO’s eastern flank.
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Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said in a press release that he would propose Economy and Tourism Minister Radu Miruta to temporarily oversee the defence portfolio while a replacement is considered.
