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New ministers swear in at Cotroceni Presidential Palace. President Iohannis issues Gov’t reshuffle decree, rejects two nominations: This reshuffle is a weak solution

November 20, 2018

The new ministers of Education, Defence, Labor and Social Justice, Economy, Culture and National Identity, Communications and Information Society, as well as that of Youth and Sports have been sworn in, on Tuesday, at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in front of President Klaus Iohannis. The new ministers are Ecaterina Andronescu – Minister of Education, Gabriel Les – Minister of National Defence, Marius Budai – Minister of Labour and Social Justice, Niculae Badalau – Minister of Economy, Daniel Breaz – Minister of Culture and National Identity, Alexandru Petrescu – Minister of Communications and Information Society, Constantin-Bogdan Matei – Minister of Youth and Sports. The ceremony at the Cotroceni Palace was also attended by Prime Minister Viorica Dancila and members of the cabinet – Viorel Stefan, Teodor Melescanu, Rovana Plumb, Natalia Intotero, Eugen Teodorovici, Stefan Oprea -, as well as presidential advisers Ion Oprisor and Cosmin Marinescu, and state adviser Ligia Deca. The Speakers of the two Chambers, Calin Popescu Tariceanu and Liviu Dragnea did not participate at the swearing-in ceremony of the new minsters. Following the ceremony, President Klaus Iohannis bid the new ministers good luck. The decree appointing the new ministers was published on Tuesday in the Official Journal. The decree however lacked the appointment of Ilan Laufer as Minister of Regional Development and Lia Olguta Vasilescu. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila on Tuesday  welcomed the newst members of her cabinet at the Government House before being sworn in office at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.   President Iohannis issues Gov’t reshuffle decree, rejects two nominations: This reshuffle is a weak solution   President Klaus Iohannis announced on Tuesday having approved the government reshuffle and presented the list of the nominees for whom he signed the decree for appointment to ministerial office; Ilan Laufer and Lia Olguta Vasilescu, proposed for Minister of Regional Development and Public Administration, and Minister of Transport, respectively, did not make the cut, with the head of the state saying they are not appropriate and will be rejected. “I issued the reshuffle decree, taking into consideration the tabled proposals. Thus, Ministers Vasilescu, Andrusca, Ivascu, Cojocaru and Bran are removed from office. We also take note of minister Fifor’s resignation,” Iohannis said at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace. He announced  that he has issued the Gov’t reshuffle decree, taking into account the nominations made by the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD). “I have received a proposal for the reshuffle of the Government, which, in my opinion, is a weak solution. I still believe that the right solution for Romania would have been and continues to be the replacement of this Government that has created a lot of problems for Romania. I agree on a reshuffle, but we need to take a few things into account. Firstly, we need to remember that we are faced with a heavy challenge: assuming the EU Council presidency on January 1, 2019, which can lead to a success of Romania only to the extent that the ministries do their job, each expert is doing his or her job, and Romania’s approach is a coherent one. In conclusion, ministers who are doing their job very well are needed. Secondly, we have to take into account that there is very little time. We have already begun and are in full swing the visits of senior European officials to help us prepare, to discuss and to check if we are ready to take up this presidency. We need to act quickly, ” Iohannis said at Cotroceni Palace. The list of the newly appointed Government members is as follows:   * Gabriel Les – Minister of National Defense   * Marius Budai – Minister of Labor and Social Justice   * Niculae Badalau – Minister of Economy   * Daniel Breaz – Minister of Culture and National Identity   * Alexandru Petrescu – Minister of Communications and Information Society   * Constantin-Bogdan Matei – Minister of Youth and Sport.   “The other two nominations I consider to be inappropriate and they will be rejected,” Iohannis said.  

The post New ministers swear in at Cotroceni Presidential Palace. President Iohannis issues Gov’t reshuffle decree, rejects two nominations: This reshuffle is a weak solution appeared first on Nine O' Clock.

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