Informal discussions and negotiations regarding a government bypass have begun. Social democrats and liberals are already discussing scenarios and options for the distribution of portfolios in the future Government at internal forums. There are also names of candidates for ministries.

The negotiations are extremely important and high-stakes for the PSD and PNL leadership. On the one hand, incoming Prime Minister Marcel Çolaku must get important portfolios in the government to fulfill the wishes of the PSD heavyweights, while Nicolae Chuke and Lucian Bode must give the Liberals access to resources and thus maintain control of the party.

According to the latest informal discussions, the number of ministries may be reduced for the round, which is scheduled for early June. Political sources from the Coalition confirmed to HotNews.ro that in the context of discussions on the reduction of the personnel scheme in the state administration, there is a possibility that the new government will have fewer ministers, depending on the negotiations.

The first discussion held in the Coalition on this matter would have aimed to reduce the number of state secretaries, but there is also a scenario aimed at uniting some ministries. According to sources cited, the target ministries will be the ministries of entrepreneurship and tourism and possibly the ministries of digitalization.

“No decision has been made, there is only discussion and analysis of options. There is a possibility that delegated ministers will be appointed to two ministries. This would mean reducing the number of state secretaries in the two portfolios from 7 to 2 secretaries,” the sources explained.

Regarding the distribution of portfolios between PSD, PNL and UDMR, no options have been outlined at the moment, negotiations are only at the beginning. Although there is some news.

What PSD wants at any cost

Portfolio discussions have started in the PSD, and serious leaders such as Paul Stanescu, Lia Olguca Vasilescu or Mihai Tudose are vying for key ministries, and Marcel Čolak will have to please them all.

PSD has given up its claims and wants to keep them Ministry of Transport for Sorin Grindeanu and willing to give up something else to liberals in exchange.

According to HotNews.ro sources, Çolaku has a direct interest in keeping Sorin Grindeanu in the future government to prevent him from leading the party. Also on health, will remain, according to HotNews.ro sources, the current minister Oleksandr Rafila.

Besides, Cholaku wants to continue Marian Neatzu TO General Secretariat of the Government, a key position for approving executive power initiatives. The PSD president relies on the expertise of Neatsu, who has access to everything that happens in the government.

Enabled blacklist ministers who have a high chance of not being part of the future Government Florin Spataru (economics), Marius Budai(work) and Peter Daea(Agriculture).

At the moment, his situation is unclear Marius Budai TO Ministry of Laborand if he continues to be supported by the president of the PSD. Buday was criticized within the party for his mismanagement of a bill aimed at abolishing special pensions. It should be noted that Budai is supported by the PSD Dolj organization headed by Lia Olguca Vasilescu.

According to social democratic sources, at the level of internal discussions, Gabriela Firea wants to save family ministryagain Mihai Tudos is interested Ministry of Defence.

In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture is a portfolio “coordinated” by PSD General Secretary Paul Stanescu. Adrian Cesnoiu – former Minister of Agriculture and current Petre Daea was proposed and supported by Stenoiu.

“Agriculture and defense are in the zone of interest, but the Ministry of Finance will be handed over to the Liberals,” HotNews.ro sources claim.

How do discussions in PNL look like on a portfolio

There are two camps in the NLP with different visions regarding the appointment of future ministers. At a meeting in Vila-Lac, the Liberals told Nicolae Chuke that they wanted leaders from the first echelon to be nominated for the next government. PNL MEP Vasile Blaga asked the party leadership to propose the party’s first vice-presidents and vice-presidents to important ministries.

Blaga’s request is consistent with the wishes of the PNL leaders, disaffected Nicolae Chuke and Lucian Bode. This category includes the first vice-presidents Rares Bogdan, Dan Motreanu, as well as such vice-presidents as Alina Gorghiu, Robert Sigiarteu, Gheorghe Falca, Florin Roman.

• From behind the scenes of the PNL meeting: Boloyan and Blaha, a sharp attack on Chuke and Bode: “We are PSD waiters in the government, pillars are better known than ministers”

Also, at an informal meeting in Vila-Lak, PNL First Vice-President Raresh Bohdan expressed his intention to head the Ministry of Transport and the post of Deputy Prime Minister.

PNL leaders told HotNews.ro that this is what PNL leaders expect Lucian Bode should not be on the list of future ministersand for him to leave the party, “according to the recommendations of President Klaus Iohannis.”

On the other hand, Nicolae Chuke and Lucian Bode, in close contact with President Klaus Iohannis, want to nominate their people from the second echelon of the party or even the president’s advisers.

Negotiations within the NLP over the portfolios will be difficult, and it remains to be seen whether President Klaus Iohannis will be able to retain his influence over the party and put forward the people he wants in the new government.

According to liberal sources, Nikolay Chuka could take the position deputy and resign as Senate President. Remaining in the government will secure him the chair of the PNL president, the cited sources explained.

Enabled blacklist ministers that the Liberals would no longer like to have in the future cabinet Daniel Cadariu (business and tourism), Marcel Bolosh (European funds), Bohdan Aurescu (external), Virgil Popescu (energy) and Cătălin Predoiu (justice).

Behind closed doors, at internal negotiations, new names for various portfolios appeared. For example, for the Ministry of external the name of the president’s adviser would be in question Luminita Teodora Odobescu, but the Vice President of PNL would also like to get this portfolio Alina Gorghiu.

At the same time, in internal party discussions for the portfolio from Finances his name appears Sebastian Burduja (currently Minister of Digital Technologies, supported by Bode and Cuke to lead PNL Bucharest), as well as Senator and former Minister of Finance Alexander Nazare (which would have been supported by First Vice President Julian Dumitrescu).

Depending on the negotiations with the PSD, Agriculture and Interior could go to the liberals, and then the name of the first vice president was announced Dan Motreanu.

• Positioning of PSD and PNL in the perspective of rotation in May / How Ciucă and Cioalcu divided the portfolios

The current minister has a good chance of remaining in the future Government Education, Ligia Deca.

A possible ring road could be between UDMR-PNL-PSD in the sense that the Ministry of Environment would go to PNL and UDMR would take over Culture from PSD.

What is provided for in the protocol of the Coalition is a government ring road

According to the political agreement signed in November 2021 by PSD, PNL and UDMR, Nicolae Chuke has the mandate of Prime Minister until May 25, 2023. At the end of May 2023, a PSD Prime Minister will be appointed, who will have a mandate until the general election in 2024.

The document signed by the coalition also provides for 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 leadership of the Ministry of Justice;
• the PSD coordinator of the General Secretariat of the Government will be replaced by a PNL representative, and the PSD will take over the coordination of the Prime Minister’s Office.