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Marius Budai resigns as Minister of Labour and Social Solidarity
Minister of Labour and Social Solidarity Marius Budai resigned on Thursday. Marius Budai submitted his resignation with the Prime Minister's Chancellery.
Marius Budai's resignation as Labor Minister is an act of honor, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu declared on Thursday at the beginning of the government meeting.
"At today's government meeting, the most important topic is definitely the situation in the protection system for the elderly and the disabled. It is extremely obvious that, due to a pool of factors that are related both to the state and the private sector, the activity of protecting the elderly and vulnerable has dramatically drifted away from its initial purpose. Unfortunately, in the last days we've seen too many situations that prove that this activity has become a cynical business for profit at any price, often acquired even by inflicting horrendous suffering on our seniors. We've seen media revelations that show the lack of any shred of empathy or compassion for the fate of people whom life has dealt such a cruel blow," said the prime minister.
He added that this reprehensible state of affairs will be put an end to, "no matter how many and hard the required changes are".
"This morning I had a discussion with Labor Minister Marius Budai, who announced me of his decision to tender his resignation at the end of this meeting. I consider this to be an act of honor for which I thank him and I am convinced that this is the normal reaction of a political decision-maker in such a crisis, in any European consolidated democracy," Marcel Ciolacu said.
The prime minister announced that according to the preliminary results of the verifications ordered nationwide on social service facilities shows that, after 1,100 senior residential care homes were inspected, 13 were closed. "I would like to ask the authorities not to fall into the other extreme and act overzealously. I don't think that by slapping millions in fines for three moldy lemons will fundamentally change anything," the head of the Executive said.
Deputy Prime Minister Marian Neacsu will act as interim labour minister following the resignation of incumbent Labour Minister Marius Budai, with a final appointmnet of the next labour minister expected next week, government sources said on Thursday.
According to the sources, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu agrees with a woman being appointed the next labour minister.
Five people would be in contention, including Social Democratic Party (PSD) MP Simona Bucura Oprescu.