Social Democratic Party Executive Board Unanimously Approves New Cabinet Structure
The executive board of the ruling Social Democratic Party, voted unanimously Sunday in favor of the new Cabinet structure and members proposed by party president and Prime Minister Victor Ponta.
In the new Cabinet, Liviu Dragnea is no longer deputy prime minister and the sole remaining deputy prime minister position will be filled by Gabriel Oprea. Dragnea remains minister of Regional Development and Public Administration.
According to the list of ministers put forward by Ponta, Darius Valcov will head the Finance Ministry, which will merge with the Budget Ministry. For the Ministry of Environment, the proposed minister is Gratiela Gavrilescu, of PLR, Calin Tariceanu’s breakaway liberal party.
PLR will also have the Ministry of Energy and SMEs, led by Andrei Gerea, while the Ministry of Economy remains with social democrats and will be headed by MP Mihai Tudose.
Education goes to the Conservative Party, to be led by Sorin Campeanu. Social democrat MP Sorin Grindeanu was proposed for Communications and social democrat MP Ionut Vulpescu was Proposed for Culture.
The remaining ministers will not be replaced. (Evenimentul Zilei)
PMP Kicks Out MEP Cristian Preda
The Popular Movement Party has ousted MEP Cristian Preda following a “unanimous vote”, the party said in a statement.
The party also called on Preda to resign from the European Parliament.
“The decision is a consequence of the application of party by/laws that state party members are banned from acting in any way that would hinder the party’s efforts to meet its objectives and follow its programs,” the statement read.
Preda recently required the party’s decision forum to dismiss Elena Udrea from the position of party president. (Puterea)
Fiscal Council Says Government Overly Optimistic In Drafting 2015 Budget
The Fiscal Council says some revenue categories in the 2015 budget draft the government has overestimated unjustifiable growth, while under-assessing future expenses.
The Council also said doubling EU fund absorption is highly unlikely.
The Council said it has its reserves regarding the government’s expectations regarding tax collections. The government expects a fast growth in tax collections, which is not supported by macroeconomic fundamentals or fiscal policies.
The Parliament will assemble Friday, December 19, to start debates on the 2015 state budget. (Curierul National)
Alina Bica Allegedly Got EUR3.5M Bribe From Ioan Niculae, Through Dragnea
Alina Bica allegedly received a bribe of EUR3.5 million from businessman Ioan Niculae, via Liviu Dragnea, to intervene in favor of the businessman, who was investigated by the organized crime department DIICOT, headed by Bica.
Bica was also allegedly promised the position of prosecutor general, according to information posted by Robert Turcescu on his blog. He published a document of the Anticorruption Department, according to which Bica is being investigated in a separate case from the one for which she is currently under arrest.
Prosecutors note that Niculae, investigated by the DIICOT, bribed Bica, through Liviu Dragnea, in exchange for a favorable case solution or the stalling of the case until the meeting of the statute of limitations.
Social Democratic Party executive president Dragnea denied any involvement. (Adevarul)