Ponta: If I win the runoff, Melescanu will be my national security adviser

Presidential candidate of an alliance of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the National Union for Romania's Progress (UNPR) and the Conservative Party (PC) Victor Ponta, the winner of the first round of the presidential election, said Tuesday that if he wins the runoff election he will appoint former director of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE) Tedoro Melescanu his national security adviser. Melescanu ran in the first round of the presidential election as an independent, finishing 9th out of 14 candidates.

'I can announce you today that I have talked with Mr Teodor Melescanu and he will be part of my presidential team as national security adviser, replacing Mr Fota, I believe, because I am counting on his experience and I need experienced people for the Presidential Administration. There will be more advisers I will unveil in the days ahead,' Ponta told a meeting on Tuesday evening of the ruling coalition discussing the next prime minister to replace Ponta if Ponta wins the runoff election. AGERPRES