PSD leader Marcel Cholaku says he “very much” wants former prime minister Mihai Tudose, now a member of the European Parliament, to join the government in May, when there will be a “rotation” of the government and prime minister. The minister and part of the ministers.

Mihai TudosPhoto: Daniel MIHAILESCU / AFP / Profimedia

Asked by Romanian television on Monday evening whether Mihai Tudose would join the government on a “rotational basis”, Čolaku said:

  • “I really want Mihai Tudose to enter the government. I spoke with him in the morning, he was in Strasbourg.
  • From what we talked about, he wants to join the government. He is an experienced person, just like Grindyanu. Watch his performance in “Transport”.

The leader of the SDP also noted that the “rotational” coalition protocol regarding the replacement of ministers will be followed unless a “better formula” is found:

  • “If we find a better formula in the coalition, we change it, but I am firmly convinced that we as politicians have intelligence. There are five months left.
  • Let’s wait and see the negotiations, which I think will be short, about the exchange of ministries. There are ministries with plays, there was a play at the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice, we got rid of MCV.”

What the PNL-PSD rotation system provides

The political agreement on the creation of the “National Coalition for Romania”, signed by the leaders of the PSD, PNL and UDMR in November 2021, after the formation of the current ruling coalition, provides that Nicolae Cuke will have a mandate until May 25, 2023, from which he will be appointed prime minister. PSD minister until the 2024 general elections.

The document also stipulates the conditions under which the rotation system between PNL and PSD will work – when the prime minister is changed, the following representatives in the government will also be replaced:

  • The Deputy Prime Minister from the PSD will be replaced by the Deputy Prime Minister from the PNL;
  • The Minister of Transport from the PSD will be replaced by a candidate for this portfolio from the PNL, and the PSD will take over the Ministry of Investments and European Projects;
  • The Minister of Public Finance from the PSD will be replaced by the PNL, and the PSD will take over the Ministry of Justice;
  • The PSD coordinator of the General Secretariat of the Government will be replaced by a representative of the PNL, and the PSD will take over the coordination of the Prime Minister’s Office.