Presidential Administration Refuses to Disclose Costs of Iohannis’ Africa Tour, Citing Classified Information

The Presidential Administration stated on Tuesday, in response to a request from several media outlets, that details regarding the costs of Klaus Iohannis’s trip with a private plane to Africa fall ‘under the incidence of classified information.’ This response comes after the head of state announced that he would ‘instruct’ the Cotroceni press office to provide ‘information in accordance with the law’ regarding these costs.

“Organizing and carrying out special flights fall under the incidence of classified information. The expenses related to foreign trips are included in the budget execution framework,” the Presidential Administration replied to the press request.

“In accordance with the Regulation on the Organization, Preparation, and Execution of Special Flights, approved by Government Decision No. 755/1998, as subsequently amended, official delegations led by the President of Romania undertake travel based on service contracts for the execution of special flights. According to the requirements established by the aforementioned Regulation, information regarding the organization and conduct of special flights falls under the national legislation on the protection of classified information. Consequently, contracts for the provision of special flight services contain classified data and information in their entirety. As a result, no information from their content or associated with them can be disclosed, being exempt from the free access of citizens,” the Presidency said.

The initiative was taken after Klaus Iohannis declared in Africa, for Libertatea, that his foreign trips ‘come with some expenses’ and promised to ‘instruct’ the press office to ‘provide information in accordance with the law.’

The President himself stated in June, when asked about the same subject, that ‘that’s the law, whether we like it or not, we can discuss it, maybe we’ll change it.’

“The Presidential Administration is very correct and transparent, and even the president personally answers all questions, and I don’t think there is a serious reason to suspect us of anything else. Furthermore, being the Presidential Administration, there is special legislation that clearly states what can be transmitted and what cannot be transmitted to colleagues, and I can’t imagine that you want to encourage anyone from the Presidential Administration to break the law. I think it would be quite ironic,” said Klaus Iohannis in June when asked why the Presidential Administration does not disclose the costs of the president’s foreign trips.