Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan announced on Thursday the proposals for the interim takeover of the portfolios that will remain vacant following the resignation of the Social Democrats from the Government.
Bolojan is to lead the Ministry of Energy on an interim basis, and the Minister of Investments and European Projects, Dragoș Pîslaru, is proposed to take over the Ministry of Labor on an interim basis.
During a press conference held at the Victoria Palace, the Prime Minister stated that the proposal for the interim leadership of the Ministry of Health is Cseke Attila, and for the Agriculture portfolio is Tanczos Barna, according to Agerpres.
Also, the Minister of Interior, Cătălin Predoiu, is expected to take over the Justice portfolio, and the Minister of Defense, Radu Miruță, the Ministry of Transport.
To take over the responsibilities of Deputy Prime Minister Marian Neacșu, the Prime Minister proposes Oana Gheorghiu.
“In a few hours, we will send both the resignations and the replacement proposal to the Presidency and we expect these decisions to be published in the Official Gazette in the coming days, so that the ministers who were proposed can effectively take over the responsibility of the ministries,” said Ilie Bolojan.
He informed that during the day he will have a discussion with the resigning Minister of Labor Florin Manole and Dragoș Pîslaru.
“Mr. Pîslaru managed this portfolio, and one of the important projects is the one related to the milestone in the PNRR, namely the salary law. Therefore, I will have a meeting with him and Minister Manole upon the completion of this statement, so that this important milestone, which has a value of 700 million euros, can be promoted in the immediate future,” the Prime Minister declared.
As for Cseke Attila, the Prime Minister recalled that she also headed the Ministry of Health, also having important administrative experience.
“The main issues are related to investments in hospitals, the implementation of the PNRR and, obviously, the ministry’s commitments to make proposals to fit into the administrative reform, the law on administrative reform, considering that the deadlines for the ministry to come up with proposals expire in the immediate future,” he explained.
The Ministry of Agriculture is to be taken over by Deputy Prime Minister Tanczos Barna, who will manage processing support projects and swine fever issues.
“At the Ministry of Agriculture, there are these types of issues related to areas with important challenges from swine fever, which is also the responsibility of ANSVSA, but also other issues related to processing support projects, so that we can develop this area,” Ilie Bolojan pointed out.
According to him, Minister Cătălin Predoiu, proposed to manage the Justice portfolio, has “important” experience in the field.
“For the Cabinet, for the projects we have, it is very important that the Ministry of Justice functions properly. Approvals are very important, so that important projects that will need to be promoted, which are often difficult to argue, are approved quickly, under good conditions and to avoid problems of unconstitutionality”, said the Prime Minister.
He informed that he will take over the Ministry of Energy on an interim basis. “Aspects related to energy do not only concern this ministry. They concern companies that are under the coordination of the General Secretariat of the Government, they concern ANRE – which is an independent authority and with which we must relate. In this way, I believe that I can make things in this field accelerate in order to increase production, to de-parasite the networks and to take measures so that energy in Romania is cheaper”, said Bolojan.
Deputy Prime Minister Radu Miruță is proposed for the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. At this ministry, one of the main challenges is the absorption of funds from the PNRR, on the road component, but especially on the railway component, “where the works are delayed”, indicated the Prime Minister.
“Also, an important aspect, which belongs to the Defense portfolio, is the SAFE Program and, in the coming days, the implementation of this program is to practically begin by starting the works at the two ends of the highway, Pașcani-Suceava-Siret and Pașcani-Iași-Ungheni. I am convinced that Deputy Prime Minister Miruță will make things run smoothly”, said Ilie Bolojan.
At the same time, Oana Gheorghiu will take over the duties of Deputy Prime Minister Marian Neacșu in terms of approvals and relations with ministries.
“She will also manage all the companies that, now under different authorities, as guardianship authorities, were not coordinated from a single place. There is a need to audit the mandate contracts of these companies and impose conditions that generate performance,” Bolojan pointed out.