The European Parliament has approved Romania's candidate for the European Court of Auditors, George Pufan. It was a case of third time lucky for Romania after the Romanian authorities first withdrew the candidature of Mircea Vasile Popescu during the political upheaval in 2012 and the Social Liberal Union's (USL) dismissal of those associated with the previous administration. Later, Leonard Orban, the new nomination, withdrew of his own accord, after a vote against his candidacy in a plenary session, which determined that he would almost certainly have been turned down by the Parliament had he continued.

The mandate of Romania’s previous Court of Auditors representative Ovidiu Ispir expired at the end of 2012 and due to the nomination shenanigans, Romania's seat at the Court has remained vacant ever since.

Members of the Court of Auditors serve six year terms. EU member states put forward candidates, which are appointed after consulting the European Parliament.

George Pufan, 55, has been a Secretary General of Romania's Court of Auditors since 2002, and from 1994 to 2000, director of the Court of Auditors.

editor@romania-insider.com