Romanian Official Decries Government Bureaucracy

Redundant departments and excessive staffing draw criticism.

Government bureaucracy in Romania is facing scrutiny as officials question the necessity of numerous employees and their associated costs. The remarks highlight concerns about resource allocation and efficiency within the government.

Staffing Imbalance

**Ilie Bolojan** recently voiced concerns over the number of employees within certain governmental departments. According to **Bolojan**, he discovered a protocol department staffed with 30 individuals.

“What are you working on?” How many employees did **Bolojan** find in the protocol and resilience departments …

In comparison, **Bolojan** noted that the protocol department at Cotroceni Palace consists of only nine employees. Furthermore, **Bolojan** pointed to an institutional resilience service with 12 to 13 employees, questioning the specifics of their work.

**Bolojan**: I found in the government a direction of protocol with 30 employees, much more than in Cotroceni where there are only 9 / we have institutional resilience service with 12-13 employees, it is difficult to explain what they work

The Romanian government has nearly 1.3 million employees as of 2023, representing approximately 6.5% of the total population (Trading Economics).

Calls for Efficiency

**Bolojan** suggests that many government employees do not justify their presence, implying a need for greater efficiency and potentially a reduction in bureaucratic bloat. He also stated that some employees of a government service do not know exactly what they do.

**Bolojan**: We found that we have a protocol direction that has, I think, 30 people. I had a curiosity – at the Cotroceni Pala, how many are at the protocol? Nine / employees of a government service do not know exactly what works

The criticisms come amid ongoing discussions about streamlining government operations and ensuring that public funds are used effectively. These concerns underscore the need for greater transparency and accountability within the Romanian government.