PNL First Vice President Raresh Bohdan says he told his colleagues at a party leadership meeting that he is “extremely determined” to submit his candidacy for deputy prime minister to a “rotational” government and, if necessary, he would also will take over the portfolio.

Nikolae Chuke and Raresh Bohdan leave the party meetingPhoto: AGERPRES
  • “I said that I am very determined to submit my candidacy for the position of Deputy Prime Minister in the government circular with one amendment: in the event that Mr. Ilie Boloyan or Mr. Emil Bock wants the position of Deputy Prime Minister from the PNL , after May 25, I will take a step aside,” said Raresh Bohdan after the meeting of the National Permanent Bureau of the PNL.

He claimed that “if such a case arises” he would also take on the government portfolio, which his colleagues “consider more difficult”.

Raresh Bohdan also said that he does not agree with the amendment to the governing protocol: “I believe that the PNL should have the position of vice-prime minister, minister of finance, including ANAF, because it is not included in the protocol, the ministry of transport, including CNAIR, so it is not included in the protocol, and SGG.”

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.