The Foundation For The Defense Of Citizens Against State Abuses (FACIAS) has filed a complaint against Mayor General Nicușor Dan and a City Hall official with DNA.
Specifically, during the months of April-May 2023, 230 planning certificates and 15 building permits were issued based on the signature of an employee who was not entitled to do so. We are talking about the usurpation of the official capacity of chief architect of Bucharest. The facts took place with the complicity of the Mayor General Nicușor Dan who also rewarded the usurper.
Illegalities discovered by another state institution
Following a recent audit, the State Building Inspectorate (ISC) discovered that, during April and May, Matei Damian, at that time executive director of the General Directorate for Urban Planning and Territorial Development of the City Hall, signed almost 250 urban planning acts, subsequently issued under the signature of Nicușor Dan, although the director had no powers in this regard. Specifically, according to the law, the building permit is signed by the mayor, the town hall secretary and the chief architect or the person with responsibility for urban planning in the issuer's own department. In this case, Matei Damian could only have signed if he had received a delegation of powers from the chief architect, as has happened in other cases. However, at the time the ISC inspectors found the irregularities, the executive director had no such delegated powers, so the result was that all permits and certificates were signed illegally. Although aware of this situation, Mayor Nicușor Dan did not hesitate to issue the acts mentioned in the report, being complicit in the violation of the law. In addition, the Mayor General, as the signatory of these authorisations and certificates, has an obligation to ensure that legal processes are respected.
FACIAS believes that these irregularities will have serious consequences, including the cancellation of building permits, all of which will cause significant damage to their beneficiaries and to the citizens of the capital in general.
Reward for the signatory of illegal acts
According to press reports, the mayor general had a close relationship with Matei Damian, who, after signing the illegal acts that are subject to the ISC audit, rewarded him by appointing him interim chief architect. Moreover, he allegedly reacted aggressively to the chief architect's claim of usurpation of his powers, not extending his mandate and thus causing him to retire.
Given all these facts, FACIAS has asked DNA for an official investigation whereby those responsible will have to pay for the acts committed, but especially to prevent these situations in which the rights of the citizens of the Capital are flagrantly violated, thus generating damage to taxpayers.
FACIAS Press Office