Update: PM proposal Sevil Shhaideh’s Syrian husband stirs controversies. Dragnea addresses intelligence services

After Social Democrat chairman Liviu Dragnea announced that the party’s nomination for the PM seat was Sevil Shhaideh (photo), the Romanian press began reporting on the controversies around her Syrian husband.

PMP chairman, former president Traian Basescu on Thursday stated that he had “warned” the head of state over the fact that Sevil Shhaideh’s husband had worked in the Agriculture Ministry in Syria for 20 years, adding that it’s all he can make public right now.

Asked about his concerns related to Akram Shhaideh’s connections with Syrian authorities, Basescu confirmed that he had shared them to President Iohannis.

“Of course, I voiced including a warning related to the fact that she is married to a man who has worked at the Agriculture Ministry in Damascus for 20 years. This is maximum what I can comment (…) all I can say publicly,” Traian Basescu told journalists.

According to riseproject.ro, Akram Shhaideh is a supporter of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, accused of war crimes by the international community. The above-mentioned source argues that Syrian-born Akram Shhaideh, now residing in Romania, is posting or sharing pro-Assad messages on social media, while slamming the rebels fighting in Syria and the Arab and Western leaders who support the Syrian revolution.

Akram Shhaideh, aged 54, an agronomist by profession, was born in Lattakia, Syria where he has got his university degree in 1984.

His first job was as head of department within the Agriculture Ministry in Syria from 1988 up to 2010.

The Syrian has got his PhD in Economy at the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest in 2010 and also in Agricultural Studies at the Faculty of Management, Economic Engineering and Rural Development.

In 2000 he became adviser on agriculture affairs at the Autonomous Body of County Roads and Bridges in Constanta, a position that he is still holding now.

Akram Shhaideh also obtained the Romanian citizenship in 2015.

According to riseproject.ro, Akram Shhaideh has repeatedly voiced his support for the Assad regime on his social media accounts, by sharing several pro-Assad photos and articles or commenting articles released in the Syrian media and defending the current regime in Damascus.

In 2011, Akram Shhaideh published an article where he wrote that the popular revolt against the Assad regime was initiated by the Muslim Brothers, slamming the Opposition and denouncing the foreign hidden interests under the umbrella of human rights defence.

“To be in opposition doesn’t mean the smell the treason and in showing lack of respect for faith and country under the pretext of change and evolution,” Akram Shhaideh wrote.

At the same time, the Syrian’s profile photo on social media is a symbol of the forces loyal to Assad.

On his social media accounts, Akram Shhaideih liked and shared the posts of “only God, Syria and Bashar” page, also sharing an article saying that the Hezbollah leader, considered a terrorist organization by EU and USA, is carrying out “the holly war”.

He also used to share media reports saying that all information we hear about Bashar al-Assad is propaganda.

Dragnea requests intelligence services to clarify situation

PSD leader Liviu Dragnea has publicly requested the intelligence services on Thursday to clarify is there is an issue related to the husband of proposed PM Sevil Shhaideh, Akram, Syrian-Romanian citizen, hotnews.ro informs.

“I believe the intelligence services should have a very clear position is there is any problem related to security, by the appointment of Sevil Shhaideh as PM,” Dragnea said. “If not, we will go the other way,” without mentioning what this means.

“If they would not say, I will consider the rumours are theirs,” Dragnea added.

Liviu Dragnea said Akram Shhaideh is a Romanian citizen and added he is convinced he was checked by all state’s institutions, or he wouldn’t have been granted the citizenship. “He is peaceful man and there is no problem, there’s no vulnerability,” he said.

He stated that the intelligence services should have intervened a long time ago for the “risk of national security in the case of the zero government led by Dacian Ciolos”, whom he accused of wasting “billions of euros”.