The priorities of the new Romanian Government

The 3rd government backed by the ruling coalition in the past year is a mix of old and new ministers.

Bogdan Matei, 29.01.2018, 13:34

Many of the ministers of the former Romanian government will keep their portfolios in the new government headed by PM Viorica Dancila. Mihai Fifor will remain defense minister, Carmen Dan interior minister, Olguta Vasilescu labor minister and Petre Daea agriculture minister.

The rest of the Social Democratic ministers have been replaced, thus Eugen Teodorovici takes over the finance ministry, doctor Sorina Pintea, a hospital manager in Baia Mare (northern Romania) takes over the healthcare ministry, actor George Ivascu, the manager of a Bucharest theater was appointed culture minister, and professor Valentin Popa, rector of the Suceava University (northeast) will be education minister.

Natalia Intotero, a Social Democratic MP will be at the helm of the Ministry for Romanians Abroad. An independent supported by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, Tudorel Toader will remain justice minister. Other ministers of the Alliance who will continue their activity are Gratiela Gavrilescu, deputy prime minister and environment minister, Teodor Melescanu as foreign minister, and Viorel Ilie as minister for the relation with Parliament.

Outgoing energy minister Toma Petcu was replaced by MP Anton Anton. The new cabinet has 28 members, of whom 4 deputy prime ministers, as compared to 3 in the previous government.

The 4th position of deputy prime minister will be occupied by Social Democrat Ana Birchall, who will manage Romanias strategic partnerships. The program with which the Social Democratic Party won the 2016 elections was adapted, the new targets of the new governing coalition including economic and social measures for youth and pensioners as well as for the business environment.

The total number of taxes, fees and commissions generally applied in Romania will not exceed 50, therefore the population will have to pay a maximum of 10 taxes while companies a maximum of 40. The government coalition also pledged to support major investments such as the construction of 8 regional hospitals and of a republican hospital in Bucharest and to modernize most of the county hospitals.

The government also promised to pay more attention to administrative decentralization and to modernize the road infrastructure. The rightwing opposition made up of the National Liberal Party, the Save Romanian Union and the Peoples Movement Party claims that many of the new government pledges are similar to those in the old program, thus the deadline for their enforcement was practically postponed by one year. Moreover, the Liberals claim that there is no link whatsoever between the objectives included in the new government program and the budget law for 2018.

According to some analysts, the main danger facing the new cabinet is not the opposition, which is not so numerous in Parliament, but rather the tensions inside the Social Democratic Party, which emerge every 6 months. In June 2017 the Social Democrats toppled, through a censure motion, their own government led by Sorin Grindeanu who became a persona non grata for the Social Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea.

This month, PM Mihai Tudose stepped down after his colleagues withdrew his political support. Other commentators believe that, now, the party is no longer facing the risk of a break between the party leader and the PM. Advised by the very party leader, Liviu Dragnea, the new PM Viorica Dancila will be a very docile premier and will religiously abide by the government coalitions strongman.