Romania’s President Traian Basescu said on Tuesday, August 5, that he will probably reject the nominations he received from Prime Minister Victor Ponta for the Budget Ministry and the Culture Ministry.

PM Ponta replied he will submit new nominations only after he will receive an official letter of rejection from the president.

Ponta named young social-democrat Claudiu Manda to take over as minister in charge of the state budget, to replace Liviu Voinea who will take a deputy governor position in Romania’s National Bank (BNR).

The PM also named Rozalia Biro for the Culture Ministry after the president of the Magyar Union (UDMR), Kelemen Hunor, resigned from this position. The country’s President has the right to reject minister nominations only once, but PM Ponta must now find other candidates.

editor@romania-insider.com