US ambassador’s alleged remarks on Ilie Bolojan government trigger reactions in Bucharest

The report prompted reactions in Bucharest, where the leaders of the two parties that eventually voted to dismiss the Bolojan government, Sorin Grindeanu of the Social Democrats (PSD) and George Simion of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), rejected any suggestion of US involvement.

Guilfoyle has been a prominent US advocate of the Vertical Gas Corridor project in the region, including its extension towards Romania. She was previously engaged to Donald Trump Jr. G4Media.ro has reported that prime minister Ilie Bolojan did not respond to requests from the American-Greek consortium involved in the Vertical Gas Corridor to purchase US gas at prices above market levels.

AUR leader George Simion denied any US interference in his party’s decisions.

“I know her, and I believe I am a good friend of the ambassador. [...] I am sure that this is an invented quote or a quote taken out of context. As a Romanian politician, I do not accept external interference, not even from American strategic partners,” Simion said, according to G4Media.

PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu acknowledged that he had held discussions with the US ambassador, saying that the Vertical Gas Corridor was a legitimate subject and one that also features in the programme of prime minister-designate Siegfried Mureșan.

“The discussions with the US ambassador to Greece concerned aspects related to the Vertical Gas Corridor, a strategic energy route in which Romania can have an important transit role. Moreover, we saw that this is also found in the government programme of the designated Prime Minister Siegfried Mureșan. The rest of the aspects you mentioned are pure fabrications, which were not the subject of the discussion,” Grindeanu said.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the alleged exchange took place in March at a dinner in Athens attended by Greek and American officials. The newspaper said Guilfoyle had an argument with Greek Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou in front of the other guests. Referring to the impending collapse of the Romanian government, Guilfoyle allegedly told those present: “We can do this to any country we want. We can do this here.”

According to the newspaper’s sources, Papastavrou responded that the United States could not replace the Greek government, which had been elected by the people. Guilfoyle’s lawyer disputed the description of the exchange.