Romanian Defence Minister Ionuț Moșteanu is facing questions regarding the accuracy of his educational credentials, prompting a public debate over clarity in government. Allegations of inconsistencies in his curriculum vitae surfaced this week after prominent journalist Cristian Tudor Popescu raised concerns on social media,focusing on discrepancies relating to the universities listed and the dates of attendance. the controversy comes at a sensitive time for Romania, as it navigates its role in regional security and ongoing support for Ukraine [[1]].
Romanian Defense Minister Ionuț Moșteanu is facing scrutiny over inconsistencies in his curriculum vitae, with allegations surfacing that he misrepresented his educational background. A prominent journalist has publicly questioned the validity of the minister’s claims, sparking a debate about transparency in public office.
The controversy began when journalist Cristian Tudor Popescu took to Facebook to express his concerns about discrepancies in Moșteanu’s CV. Popescu questioned how Moșteanu could have completed a three-year program in Automation at a highly regarded university, one from which Popescu himself graduated in 1981. “What the heck did this party operative (who supported E. Lasconi for months before switching to Nicușor Dan in 24 hours) do at the Automation faculty in Bucharest, one of the most powerful and serious educational institutions in Romania?” Popescu wrote.
Popescu further asserted that Moșteanu’s recent statements regarding his education were not only false but also demonstrated a lack of intelligence. “It seems phenomenal to me how this man lies directly, without blinking, especially considering he’s also… not the brightest,” he stated. “How else can it be, when we consider how he tried to justify the grotesque failure of the reservist mobilization operation or his refusal to communicate to the public the amount Romania has helped Ukraine with so far?”
The journalist pointed to a pattern of shifting narratives surrounding Moșteanu’s education. “I’ve heard him say countless times on television that he graduated from a bogus private university, Bioterra, involved in diploma scandals. He claimed he wasn’t ashamed of it, with b-i-o-t-e-r-r-a. And now there’s no Bioterra in his CV, but Athenaeum Management, which was founded 20 years after he supposedly attended it. It’s like a citizen named Prostu Ion requesting to have his name changed to Prostu Vasile,” Popescu continued.
Popescu also criticized fellow USR party members for what he described as a “pathetic” attempt to explain away the alleged falsehoods.
Discrepancies in Moșteanu’s CV
According to a report by Libertatea, earlier versions of Moșteanu’s CV listed the Athenaeum University, while more recent versions cite Bioterra. Athenaeum University has denied that Moșteanu was ever a student there.
Moșteanu held positions as an advisor in the Ministry of Transport and as a member of the boards of several state-owned companies in 2015-2016, roles that legally required a university degree. In his CV at that time, he stated he studied Management at the private Athenaeum University in Bucharest from 1996 to 2000, claiming it was his only university degree.
In a response to Libertatea, Athenaeum University stated that Moșteanu was never a student and that the Management specialization wasn’t even offered during those years, becoming authorized only in 2020. The CV listing Athenaeum University has since been removed from the Tarom website, where Moșteanu’s profile appeared as a member of the Board of Directors.
After becoming a member of parliament, Moșteanu’s CV was updated to include studies at another private university, Bioterra, between 1996-1999, which he reportedly completed in 2015.
The Minister’s Explanation: “A Mistake That Embarrasses Me”
Following the reports by Libertatea regarding the earlier CV listing Athenaeum University, where the school claims he never studied, Minister Moșteanu, a member of the USR party, acknowledged on his Facebook page that the mention of Athenaeum in his first public CV was “a mistake.” He also posted a copy of his degree from Bioterra, from the Faculty of Engineering and Agrotourism Management.
“To clarify the discussions that have arisen in the public space about my studies, I am posting my degree here to clarify things,” Moșteanu wrote.
The minister then detailed his academic history: “I entered Automation in 1992, ranking 45th. In my second year, I started working to support myself and didn’t finish. I started another faculty, but completing my degree wasn’t a priority for me, as I never needed a diploma for private sector jobs and entrepreneurship. I continued to learn every day and still do.
I completed my degree in 2015 and obtained my diploma from Bioterra, Faculty of Engineering and Agrotourism Management, Profile – economic engineering, Specialization – managerial engineering,” Moșteanu wrote. “In a CV made in 2016 in a hurry using a template from the internet, there was a mistake that I admit embarrasses me. I didn’t pay much attention to these details then. For that, I apologize.”
