“Looking a little closer to the end of my career – which will still be quite a long way off – I see myself at the fireplace, listening to the gratitude of Romanians for the achievements that I have made for them and will continue to make,” said the Romanian dignitary in a podcast that he was invited.

Many people on the streetPhoto: Shutterstock

Yevhen Teodorovych, former Minister of Finance, discussed more or less known aspects of private and public life in the “Umblă vorba” podcast. “My great-grandfather’s name was Todorovichi. It was changed to Teodorovych when my great-grandfathers moved from the former Yugoslavia to Romania,” the dignitary testified.

He also talked about the current war in Ukraine, saying that it would be a shame for Romania to get caught between the seats. “After the war, which, like any war, will end someday, we do not know and do not want to learn how they play diplomatically. Two who fight today will shake hands tomorrow. (…) Both the USA and Russia will join hands and rebuild Ukraine together,” the official said.

He admitted that he has a “Russian” style of negotiation. I appropriated it and practiced it as a minister, as an official of this country, or as a dignitary. I never discuss what belongs to me! You always fight to get something extra, even if you know that this plus is someone’s minus,” Teodorovych also said.

What else did the former Minister of Finance say in the podcast to which he was invited:

  • Well, to me, a penny has no smell. Today, the great powers that impose sanctions against Russia, they do business with Russia, they live off business with Russia
  • When someone wants to compare, balance what I have done and what everyone else has done in the field of finance, we can discuss. I put more on my to-do list than any politician in Romania could. Because I am a Serb and a Leo!
  • My daughter decided to skip school. I told him to finish school in Romania first – blasphemous as it is, but it’s better than many other schools outside the country – and then if you want to get a master’s degree or whatever, very good. It’s your business. You work, you get a job, you pay for your studies, your work. But I would really like you to come back to this country. The girl decided the opposite. First study abroad, then come and stay in Romania. The guy is ready to stay in Romania This is one of the joys of my life!
  • I just saw the measure – stupid sir – that whoever goes back to Romania gets I don’t know how much money. he has I don’t know how many 12,000 lei or something like that if he hires Romania. Diaspora should spit on those who make such promises!
  • Apart from my job description as Minister of Finance, I have done many other things that Romanians will hear about in the coming months. They will see that Teodovych has done even more than stated in the job description for health care, agriculture, infrastructure, foreign policy…
  • I will give only two examples: in 2019, Romania fought for a place in the UN, in the Security Council. But we did not have the voice of the Caribbean countries. Estonia was with us in the competition… I did what I did to get the Caribbean countries to vote for us. But in the end we didn’t get that place because someone had a creative idea for Romania to move the Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. A stupid idea from all points of view. And the countries of the Persian Gulf said: nipple-banana! Goodbye, our vote will be cancelled!
  • Romania has started negotiations on joining the OECD. why Because in the past years – in 2019 – Teodovichy somewhat blackmailed the French Ministry of Finance (…) There was also a dispute; the Europeans sent me to the Americans, saying that America was against it. When I was in the US, at the State Department, he said, guys, don’t play with me: either you or them! They said that it is not us, you see that France…”

From December 1, 2023, Yevhen Teodorovych is the director of the Auditing Body of the Accounting Chamber. He is being investigated by the Ethics Committee for his involvement in the creation of a political party.

The Code of Ethics stipulates that auditors “must maintain their independence from any political influence.” Teodorovych noted that he participated in the event as a moderator. He appears in photographs with Ilan Laufer and other leaders of the Romanian Sovereign Block.

Teodorovici, a former PSD senator, was also the minister of European funds and then of public finance in Victor Ponta’s government.