Prime Minister to Make Proposals for Vacant Cabinet Offices This Week

Currently, the cabinet is lacking full-time justice, EU funds and Romanians abroad ministers, while the deputy PM role currently held by Viorel Stefan will also be vacated on July 1, as the former finance minister is set to become a member of the EU’s Court of Accounts.

“We have to send three proposals for the three offices to Cotroceni (the president’s headquarters, ed.) this week. This afternoon, I will request my colleagues to make proposals and we will vote them in the executive committee. Furthermore, we must also make a proposal regarding the deputy prime minister role to replace Mr. Viorel Stefan,” the prime minister said.

Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) began an executive committee meeting on Tuesday afternoon, continuing a day-long series of meetings which will set the party’s future following their defeat in the European Parliament elections on Sunday and the imprisonment of former chairman Liviu Dragnea for corruption offences.

The three vacant government roles are currently held an interim term by other cabinet members, after EU Funds Minister Rovana Plumb and Romanians Abroad Minister Natalia Intotero resigned in order to run Sunday’s elections, while former Justice Minister Tudorel Toader lost political support from the ruling coalition.