Prime Minister: I Am Waiting for the President to Reason His Cabinet Appointment Refusals

“We are a political government, it is normal to discuss what proposals we will make. At the same time, the president must reason his refusals. I want to see if the reasons concern legality, not opportunity,” the Romanian chief of cabinet said.

Viorica Dancila added that she ruled out a cabinet restructuring, which would bypass the president’s role, to avoid other possible blockages in the process on part of the president. Under a restructuring, the new cabinet would have to be voted by the Parliament, but the president would still have to sign decrees appointing the new ministers.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis refused last month to appoint Eugen Nicolicea as new justice minister, Oana Florea as new EU funds minister and Liviu Brailoiu as Romanians abroad minister, arguing that Dancila’s proposals, initiated by the ruling Social Democrat Party, were not suitable for the offices. The president agreed to appoint interim ministers for the three roles from within the cabinet.