New changes in Romania’s Govt. target deputy PM, minister for Relations with Parliament

The Romanian Government led by the coalition made of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) has a new deputy PM and a new minister for Relations with the Parliament. Gratiela Gavrilescu, who was the minister for Relations with the Parliament, replaced Daniel Constantin in the positions of deputy Prime Minister and environment minister. Meanwhile, the portfolio of the Ministry for Relations with the Parliament was taken over by Viorel Ilie. Both ministries are led by ALDE members. President Klaus Iohannis signed on Monday the decrees on appointing the new ministers. The sworn in ceremony was scheduled for later the same day. The changes were triggered by a dispute within ALDE, between the party’s two co-presidents Daniel Constantin and Calin Popescu-Tariceanu. The two accused each other of several things, including betrayal, blackmail, and conspiracy. After several weeks, in late-March, the ALDE leaders decided to withdraw the political support for Daniel Constantin. Thus, Constantin was revoked from the positions he was holding in the Government, namely deputy Prime Minister and minister of environment. The PSD-ALDE Government, which started its activity in January, previously made some changes in February. Tudorel Toader took over as justice minister after Florin Iordache decided to resign following the huge scandal related to the emergency ordinance that would have brought changes to criminal code, and which led to massive street protests in Romania. New leaders were also appointed at the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry for Business Environment, and the EU Funds Ministry. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com