The four proposed deputy prime ministers are Viorel Stefan, Gratiela Gavrilescu, Ana Birchall and Paul Stanescu. Viorel Stefan will also be environment minister, Ana Birchall will be the head of the Ministry for Implementing European Affairs while Paul Stanescu will be development minister.
Eight ministers will keep their positions in the new Government, namely foreign affairs minister Teodor Melescanu, minister for liaison with Parliament Viorel Ilie, interior minister Carmen Dan, defense minister Mihai Fifor, justice minister Tudorel Toader, agriculture minister Petre Daea, labor minister Lia Olguta Vasilescu and minister delegate for European Affairs Victor Negrescu.
Lucian Sova will now run the Ministry of Transports instead of the Ministry of Communications, which will now be led by Bogdan Cojocaru, and Rovana Plumb will return as minister for European funds. Plumb had resigned in October amidst suspicions of her complicity in a case of abuse of office.
The new names in the Cabinet are Valentin Popa as education minister, Eugen Teodorovici as finance minister, Anton Anton as energy minister, Gheorghe Ivascu as culture minister, Sorina Pintea as health minister, Danut Andrusca as economy minister, Radu Oprea as minister for business environment, trade and entrepreneurship, Ioana Bran as minister for youth and sport, Bogdan Trif as tourism minister, Ioan Denes as minister for waters and forests and Natalia Intotero as the minister for Romanians everywhere.
The new Cabinet comes after former prime minister Mihai Tudose stepped down on January 15 once he lost the ruling party’s support. Parliament’s investiture vote for the new ministers is scheduled for January 29.