His appointment to the leadership of the Ministry of Economy was a surprise for everyone, as in January this year many thought that he was an unknown person, partially because he was on his first mandate as an MP. Ever since the first moments of his mandate, Danuţ Andruşca has shown that he will not be the type of person the news studios expected. For 10 months after taking office, the head of the Ministry of Economy did not even give an interview. EVZ managed to talk to him and find out the story of the most discreet Minister of the Government of Dăncilă, and what his plans are for the future of the ministry he leads.

The first question that comes to your mind if you face Danuţ Andruşca is: why does not he have public appearances? “As I said at the six-month review, I am a discreet, honest man honored to work for my country. I am an ordinary man, and with good and evil, as the majority of Romanians are. I am not accustomed to the spotlight and the cameras, I am not a man who loves the circus and the political show”, answered Danut Andruşca.

The second question comes naturally: what is his opinion of those who criticize him? “I am an empathetic man, I realize when the person in front of me comes with an open heart and in good faith and when he comes with bad will. I’m afraid of the attempts of the ones who try to laugh at me, by asking questions that they think are tricky and sometimes mocking, but these things can be detected very easily. But who would accept that? When I am asked questions in good faith, as right now, I respond as I do now, including to the press, but when I’m only asked to be laughed at, I do the most polite thing possible: I’m skipping the trap. Some say I run away and I hide, but I say I behave like a decent and well-grown man who believes in God. I will not always support the play of all those whose behaviour shows that they are badly raised. I really believe God judges each one according to their soul, “says the minister.

The divine will comes into discussion when he speaks about when he found out that he would be the minister: “I was in a monastery in Neamt when I was called from Bucharest to be announced that I would be appointed minister. I am a man who believes in symbols and I am convinced that God places them all in the best way, that is why I said every time and repeat at this occasion too that it is an honor for me to be able to work for my country “.

He met his wife on the bus. Andruşca characterized himself as a person who loves his family and says that while he was being criticized for the stunned attitude in front of the cameras, the first thing he thought about was the ones at home. “I was afraid that my 26-year-old daughter, who is a student of dentistry, and my 18-year-old son in the 12th grade, would be affected by the ugly talk of their father . But I had the surprise to be encouraged by them. Moreover, the people from Târgu Neamţ, the city I am from, have been encouraging . It is a small town where we are a very united community, like a family”, says Andruşca.

The minister also talks about his wife and says that they fall in love at first glance: “We met on a bus right after the 1989 Revolution. My wife is a mathematics teacher and at that time taught in a village next to Targu Neamt and commuting daily. After that first meeting I invited her to the city and since then we are inseparable. From my point of view, the family must be protected because it is the greatest achievement of a man”.

He says that the ministerial makes him to be rarer at home, in Târgu Neamţ, than he would like to: once a month. What does a minister do when he gets home? Andruşca says he’s cooking. “I like fishing, I like to play rummy with my friends with a glass of wine, I like to listen to good Romanian music, I like to cook for the family. About food and drink I think they are all from God, and as such I think it’s a shame to make calls. I like wine, I have some vineyards and I make my wine. I like traditional Romanian dishes, which is normal for someone born and raised in Neamt. You can not live in Neamt County and not get into the traditional Romanian dishes. And sincerely, I believe that the best food in all of Romania is in Neamt, “says the minister.

He says he also has a traditional, area-specific recipe that he makes for his friends when he goes to his childhood village, Vanatori: “I make sheep. I give you the recipe. On Friday you cut a sheep that I skin and let it cool overnight. On Saturday morning I cut it into large pieces that I put in a pot in the pistes. I have a 100-pound chalice in the countryside. On the meat I put salt, pepper and ienibahar and a little water, then let it boil in its own juice for 12 hours in small fire. In the evening, the meat is so tender that it easily breaks off the bones. It is served cold and when I cook this, I call all my friends and family”, says Andruşca.

During the discussion, the minister repeatedly remembers the divine will, saying he is a faithful man. Who inspired this faith? “My grandmother was the one who took me to the church since I was little boy. I grew up in the village of Vânători and I had the opportunity to live in an environment of faithful people all the holidays over the year. For example, I remember that on Easter, when I grew bigger, my responsibility was to drown in trees. So I became a man who believes in God, “says the minister, who says he goes weekly to church. If it’s all about childhood, a new curiosity comes naturally: did it make nonsense? “I was a child like any other, but I did not make a spectacular snap. In adolescence I had an event that caught my attention. In a break between classes, during high school, we started to throw each other with the Scânteia Tineretului magazine. It’s just that our teacher caught us and forced us to cut our hair down. But we managed to get rid of the punishment because the parents came to school and scandalized”, recalls Andruşca.

A legend about Danuţ Andruşca has been circulated in recent months: the fact that he had a vulcanization. “Let’s make it clear: I have never had a vulcanization, not that it would be a shame. I think everyone who has begun to joke about vulcanization, after some former colleague’s statement, does not forget to change winter tires when it’s winter, and when going to vulcanization, they should be ashamed if they laughed at this job. We had a rubber products factory, we hired over 250 people, and I’m proud to be able to help some people put bread on the table. I’ve been doing business for a couple of years. I had a firm in the 1990s and worked a lot for my company, “the minister explains. He gave up the business in 2012 when he entered politics. Was he expecting to become a minister after only six years? He says no, but, surprisingly, his mother-in-law expected. “My mother-in-law, who was still alive when I entered politics, told me:” Danute, you have to become a parliamentarian! ” Then I said she was too optimistic, but I entered to Parliament after only four years of politics”, said the minister.

“All kinds of saboteurs were trying to bury the project to take over Mangalia yard”.

Behind the “seasoned” image with some kind of criticism, Danuţu Andruşca answered EVZ questions about the strategic objectives of the Ministry of Economy. He spoke to us about the “saboteurs” who tried to prevent the 2 Mai Mangalia Shipyard from taking over the investments in the defense industry projects that tripled in 2018, about one of the most important post-revolutional investments – the BRUA project or about the country’s energy highway, an extremely important project for Romania’s energy security.

– EVZ: The national defense industry is extremely important in the context of Romania’s obligations as a NATO member. What amounts have been allocated by the Ministry of Economy to military projects?

– Dănuţ Andruşcă: For the Government of Romania, defense and national security is an undeniable priority. Proof of this is that Romania is one of the few countries that have allocated 2% of GDP for defense. In this context, the investment amounts allocated by the Ministry of Economy to our defense industry rise up to 69 million lei in 2018, triple compared to 2017. Our partnerships are also extremely important for the Romanian economy and for national security. There are partnerships with internationally renowned companies that confirm our international and transatlantic commitments. One worthwhile project is that Romaero, a company co-ordinated by the Ministry of Economy, is becoming a regional center in Central Europe for the equipment and maintenance of the American Black Hawk helicopters.

– In your mandate, Romania picked up a premiere: the recovery from the private shareholders of Mangalia yard. What can you tell us about the “battle” behind this port?

– Recently, the Competition Council authorized the takeover of the Shipyard at Mangalia by Damen and the 2 May Shipyard, one of the last formalities to be carried out. What is to be remembered here is that, thanks to the efforts made by the Ministry team, the state has become a majority, without a single leu being spent from the state budget. We saved the local community of Mangalia and brought back under the control of the state an industrial objective of strategic importance for Romania. What I can tell you is that it was really a battle, with all kinds of saboteurs, who, for reasons only known to them, tried to bury this project. I will not provide background information because it would not be decent for me. You know, in the Chamber of Deputies, the last simple motion, we talked about the “rattles” of the Ministry of Economy, about those “good-will” sources that reveal all sorts of things not meant for advertising. Well, I’m not like them, I will not say what can not be said publicly. What I can tell you, on the other hand, is that the success of taking control of Mangalia Shipyard is proof that I do not let myself be discouraged or intimidated by the tricks of those who want to put my sticks in the wheel.

– BRUA gas pipeline construction will ensure our energy independence? Will the Romanian renounce the gas bottle?

– The project Bulgaria-Romania-Hungary-Austria pipeline, developed by Transgaz, known mainly because of the BRUA abbreviation, is one of the most important post-revolution investments. Four years after designing, its implementation has begun, with work being drawn from one end to the next. BRUA will provide us with connections with Hungary and Bulgaria with a transport capacity to Hungary of 1.75 billion mc / year and 1.5 billion mc / year to Bulgaria at the completion of Phase I and with a transport capacity to Hungary of 4 , 4 billion cubic meters per year and 1.5 billion cubic meters per year to Bulgaria at the completion of Phase II. These figures really show the dimensions of this project and the way in which the energy landscape in Southern Europe will change. In addition, for Romania, it will mean an increase in the security of gas supply. BRUA provides the opportunity to develop the National Gas Transmission System (NTS), which will allow local communities to contact the NTS and provide gas to the Romanians who live in these towns or gas without the need for bottles. In addition, it has created jobs: around 17 sites are involved about 500 workers, only at this stage of construction. When it comes to a mega-site, it will be divided into 100 sections of 5 km.

– What can you tell us about Transelectrica projects and their importance?

– About Transelectrica I can tell you that there is another project that is extremely important for Romania’s energy security. I am speaking here about closing the 400 kV ring of Romania, the country’s energy highway, whose main benefit will be to increase the security of electricity supply. At the same time, at the level of the Capital, another similar project, namely the closure of the 400 kV ring of Bucharest, is being worked out.

– What was the most difficult moment in the work of the Minister?

– This is a question I will answer to the end of the mandate, or when I am no longer a minister, not now.

– How is it that in the country you are subject to criticism, although, according to Eurostat, Romania has registered the highest quarterly increase in industrial production in the European Union?

– I do not want to talk about those who criticize me in the country because they criticize me for the form, not for the fund. Do you know the sweets made in the house? They do not always have a great commercial appearance, but they are tasty and healthy. This is the parallel that I would like to remember those who read this interview. Romania’s economy is working, industrial output is rising because the economic policies of the Governance Program are fruitful. Are there some in Romania, especially from the Opposition or representing different interests, who can not recognize the merits of the PSD or the Government or the Governing Program and what do they do? They attack Andrushka to make a smoke curtain and not to speak of the positive elements, but only the negative ones. I believe that the Romanians will also get fed up by these smoke curtains, that I am convinced that I am sick to hear how I do not talk to the press, and then we have to start talking seriously about the important things.

– What do you answer to your critics commenting on the fact that you do not have public exits?

– It does not matter what they can answer, it matters what the Romanians answered in both 2012 and 2016, when they voted very much against the political show made by the former PDL leader, currently part of the PNL, and when voted against President Traian Basescu, a well-known individual for the show he made at public exits. What should I answer, Danut Andruşca, in these conditions to my critics? Do they think if I was on TV all day, would their life have been better? Do you know what I really believe? I think those who want to find a knot in the rush found me anyway, and those who look at what the Ministry of Economy does, beyond my person, appreciate my decency in public approaches.

During the meeting I had with the Ministry of Economy, Dănuţ Andruşca provided information for the “Evenimentul zilei”, for the first time:

“I can tell you exclusively that today (Sunday n.r.) landed at Baneasa the first RyanAir plane to be repaired by Romaero, a strategic company in the portfolio of the Ministry of Economy. This airplane is the first of many to be repaired at Romeero under a contract signed between Mr. Remus Vulpescu, General Director Romero and representatives of the famous airline. It is a five-year framework contract that can be prolonged, it was possible to conclude after Romaero has made significant advances in the accelerated recovery process over the past two years, 2017 and 2018, due to the efforts of the executive management of the company, especially by Mr Vulpescu, whom I congratulate on all that he has done, especially for this contract. The customer is the largest airline in Europe with a fleet of about 450 Boeing aircrafts. They transported 131 million passengers last year, this year about 140 million passengers.
Collaboration that can support Romaero jobs for both middle and advanced aeronautics specialists can support salary increases that make the Romanian company attractive to many specialists who have gained experience working in Romania or abroad, and , in particular, demonstrates that the major projects in the governance program we are implementing are achievable when we have continuity in addressing the issues correctly.”

Source: EVZ