The topic of government reshuffles is back on the public agenda after Vasile Dinku’s name appeared in the press as a reshuffle, and coalition leaders are expected to officially launch the topic after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. What do the discussions and political calculations look like within the PSD, PNL and UDMR regarding personnel reshuffles?

According to HotNews.ro’s sources from the Coalition, PSD and PNL are making their own political calculations and believe that the reshuffle of ministers “will take place sometime in the fall in September-October, depending on the development of social events and how the population will express itself.” their dissatisfaction with the evolution of prices.”

Which PSD ministers can be reshuffled / Who can get the defense portfolio

The name of Defense Minister Vasile Dinku is on the short list of candidates. According to sources in the Coalition, Vasile Dink’s performance as Minister of Defense “would not satisfy President Klaus Iohannis.” In addition to criticizing him for “weak activity in the ministry and non-commitment”, the Social Democrats are unhappy that he “didn’t communicate with the party at all”.

“Vasile Dinku was proposed to the post of minister by Radu Moldovan from Bistrica, and Marcel Čolaku accepted him with a nod, so the future reshuffle is inevitable. Čolaku will allow the party to resolve this issue,” PSD sources claim to HotNews.ro.

The party is also talking about a possible takeover of the Ministry of Defense by MEP Mihai Tudose. He also wanted the defense portfolio in December 2021 when the PSD-PNL-UDMR coalition was formed, but local leaders did not support him.

According to the cited sources, he is actively lobbying and Marcel Čolaku would give his consent on the condition that he “convinces local leaders to support him as well”.

Also in the PSD, Florin Marian Spataru, Minister of Economy, will be on the list of possible ministerial changes. He will be criticized for “weak activity and lack of visibility in the media.”

The PSD also wants, at least on a public level, the departure of Virgil Popescu from the Ministry of Energy. The Social Democrats are dissatisfied with his activities and do not miss the opportunity to state this publicly. During the year, the PSD consistently attacked the energy minister, accusing him of mismanaging the energy price problem.

Unofficially, the Social Democrats are comfortable with Virgil Popescu staying in office to point the finger at whoever is responsible for the big bills crisis that will come in the autumn and winter months.

Liberals make calculations to secure Chuke’s position / Which PNL ministers can be reshuffled

In the PNL, political calculations regarding personnel reshuffles revolve around the political future of Nicolae Chuke. More precisely, according to HotNews.ro’s PNL sources, Nicolae Chuke is being groomed to become the Senate President after the second round takes place in March 2023, and the PSD should take over as Prime Minister.

Alina Gorgiou is now the interim president of the Senate, and the Liberals do not know for sure whether they will be able to keep the interim position until next March. Specifically, the PNL does not want to appoint Alina Gorgiou as Senate President with a full mandate and is looking for backup solutions. The current Minister of Education, Sorin Campeanu, is intensively lobbying in the party to appoint him as the head of the Senate.

In this context, Sorin Campeanu’s name has been rumored as a possible replacement.

Virgil Popescu’s name is also on the list of candidates. According to the cited sources, Virgilia Popescu is supported by President Klaus Iohannis, but in a situation where public pressure will be high due to energy prices, the liberals are ready to replace him to limit the negative influence on the party.

UDMR is forced to offer the minister for reshuffle

As for the UDMR, there is no intention to reshuffle its ministers, but coalition partners PSD and PNL intend to ask for a name reshuffle for the scandal created by Viktor Orbán. HotNews.ro sources claim that Sports Minister Eduard Novak could be on the short list of ministers who could leave the government.

Discussions on staff changes have been renewed at Coalition level in the context of what is expected to be public pressure on the Government in the coming months due to the energy crisis in Europe, which will give rise to an economic crisis.

PSD president Marcel Cholaku recently said that he is “firmly convinced that at some point there will be a reshuffle” but says that “no decision has been made with the prime minister at the moment” on the matter.

His statement came in the context of several reports in the press, according to which a change is being prepared at the level of the government team.