Five of the six proposed ministers were sworn

Interim President Crin Antonescu signed Monday evening the decrees on the appointment of the new ministers in the cabinet of Prime Minister Victor Ponta.

On the list submitted by the presidential administration does not appear the appointment of Mona Pivniceru for Justice, but only the revocation of Titus Corlăţean from the leadership of this ministry, according to a presidency release.

Judge Mona Pivniceru, proposed for Justice portfolio, should resign from the Superior Council of Magistracy in order to take the office.

Five of the six ministers of the new governmental team sworn Monday evening, at Cotroceni Palace, their investiture oath.

According to Radio Romania editor, Angela Bârgăoan, the developments began with the declaration of Ioan Rus, who announced not only his resignation from the Ministry of Interior, but also that of Victor Paul Dobre, Minister-delegate for Administration.

Although rumors in recent days about a possible reshuffle had been denied, the chief executive in a statement made ​​public at the Victoria Palace not only nominations for vacancies, but also two redeployment.

Titus Corlăţean leaves justice leadership for Romanian diplomacy head and Mircea Duşa takes the portfolio for administration and interior, quitting the function of minister for relations with parliament.

This is taken by Senator Dan Șova, while Radu Stroe was called minister delegated for administration.

The Minister Delegate for Business, Lucian Isar, was replaced by Mihai Voicu.

At the Ministry of Justice, Prime Minister nominated Judge Mona Pivniceru, CSM member.

"I talked to judge Mrs. Pivniceru , she said that she agreed to resign from CSM, that she wants to do for justice what, you know, being in the other side of magistrates, she always expected from the ministry," said Victor Ponta .

Traian Băsescu criticized some executive appointments

Suspended President Traian Băsescu criticized Monday the new executive appointments and told that the appointment of Dan Șova within the government is a big mistake, because nowhere in Europe are tolerated anti-Semitic statements.

"I think it is a big error the appointment of Șova in the cabinet, a big error, taking into account the reactions which may occur against the government as a result of anti-Semitic statements that he made​​.

"Nobody in Europe cannot forgive and does not tolerate anti-Semitism," said Traian Băsescu.

Suspended President welcomed the change of Andrei Marga from the foreign ministry, which he said it is "a disaster", but also said that the appointment of Titus Corlăţean at the leadership of Romanian diplomacy is a mistake.

"I announced today a reshuffle. If something important is that it will be shuffled from Foreign Minister Marga, who was a disaster for Romania. Again, a calamity.

"Unprepared for such functions, with few ideas, devoid of imagination and credibility, illiterate regarding the foreign, good in scientific socialism.

"The appointment of Corlăţean at the external, another big mistake. He countersigned the emergency ordinance which reduced CCR duties ", said Traian Băsescu.

Suspended President asked to Acting President Antonescu to reject the oath of investiture that Dan Șova and Titus Corlăţean are supposed to submit.

As regards the judge Mona Pivniceru, Traian Băsescu said that she is prepared from the professional point of view and that she struggles for independence of the judiciary, which, in his opinion, is the most important criterion in the appointment of a minister of justice.

Who are the new ministers?

Mircea Duşa took over the Interior Ministry and Radu Stroe is the new deputy minister for administration.

Both replace Ioan Rus and Victor Paul Dobre, who resigned from the ministries leadership.

Minister of Foreign Affairs is Titus Corlăţean, and Minister for Relations with Parliament is Dan Șova.

After the Minister for Business, Lucian Isar, announced his resignation, was proposed instead the Liberal deputy minister Mihai Voicu.

Superior Council of Magistracy rejected the request for deployment of Judge Mona Pivniceru, elected member of the CSM, as Minister of Justice.

For the post of Minister of Justice, left vacant by the passing of Titus Corlăţean at the Foreign Ministry, was proposed by former President of the Association of Magistrates of Romania, Mona Pivniceru, current judge and member of the Superior Council of Magistracy(CSM).

Since CSM rejected the detachment of the judge, Mona Pivniceru could not take the oath of investiture.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta said Monday that he hopes Andrei Marga, withdrew from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to accept new responsibilities that will be granted, without specifying which those are.

"Foreign Minister Andrei Marga is a personality that I appreciate very much and still believe that will represent Romania only in the best way possible in functions that I want to accept in the near future," said the Premier.

The changes were explained by the prime minister that the government should leave the logic of war and respond to attacks from suspended President Traian Băsescu and PDL only by serious and responsible actions, according to people's expectations.

The Prime Minister said that he has nothing to blame on former ministers.

"I have nothing to reproach to former ministers, starting to Ioan Rus and Victor Paul Dobre. They are people whose moral and professional integrity I appreciate as being impeccable, people who have done their duty within the government and in this context of irresponsible and virulent accusations from the suspended President Băsescu and his colleagues in the PDL, they agreed to assume a responsibility that, from the politically point of view, someone always have to ensure ", also said the premier.

Ioan Rus announced that he resigned from the function of Minister of Administration and Interior, as he is an honest, fair politician, and in recent days pressures have been made upon him starting with Traian Băsescu and until Crin Antonescu , which he said that is unacceptable.

Tags: Mircea Dusa, Radu Stroe, Titus Corlatean, Dan Sova, Mona Pivniceru, investiture, minister, Victor Ponta, Crin Antonescu

Translated by

Alexandra-Diana Mircea

MTTLC, Bucharest University