PSD President Marcel Čolaku said on Wednesday that Nicolae Chuke will not be part of the government that will be formed after the rotation of prime ministers in May, as he wants to become the president of the Senate.

Marcel Cholaku and Nicolae ChukaPhoto: Government, Facebook

Marcel Choulaka was asked on Digi 24 if Nicolae Chuke will join Marcel Choulaka’s government as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense after the rotation of Prime Ministers.

“No. As far as I know and from the discussions I had with Mr. Prime Minister Nicolae Chuke, His Excellency wants the President of the Senate to go. (…) I am assuming what I told you. I am telling you that , that I spoke with the Prime Minister. I don’t think Mr. Nicolae Chuke wants to return to the post of Minister of Defense. There would also be an imbalance of power, because I am the president of the PSD, he is the president of the PNL, it would create discomfort both in the PNL, as well as in the PSD. Thus, this is a scenario thrown on the market, it is not the only one,” Çolaku said, according to Agerpres.

What does the rotation system established by the PNL-PSD provide for when taking office in the government

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.