With the National Liberal Party PNL having announced its withdrawal from the Romanian Government, it's up to the Social Democratic Party PSD to fill in the vacant seats and make sure it has parliamentary support.

Soon after PSD and PNL parted ways and the former union the Social Liberal Union collapsed, the country's Prime Minister, the social democrat Victor Ponta and the party he leads have started to negotiate ministerial seats and political support.

The first step was to name several interim ministers, until a final structure of the Government can be set.

The seven seats vacated by the liberals will be re-assigned, with Liviu Voinea, a former minister delegate, now leading the Finance Ministry, and Nicolae Banicioiu, the interim at the helm of the Health Ministry. The minister – delegate for social dialogue, Doina Pana, will be the interim head of the Labor Ministry. Gabriel Oprea will stay head of the Interior Ministry, and Dan Sova deal with the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry.

The new structure of the Government could include the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), which should also receive several portfolios in the executive. The structure of the Government also includes ministers from the Conservative Party, a minority member of the former Social Liberal Union.

Commentators expect PM Victor Ponta to nominate new government members and propose them for the Parliament vote's of confidence in the beginning of next week.

More about the recent break in the USL, here.

editor@romania-insider.com