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PSD's CexN validated proposals for the new Regional Development, Transport and European Funds ministers - Paul Stanescu, Felix Stroe and Marius Nica, respectively
The Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Liviu Dragnea, on Friday announced that the proposals for the new Regional Development, Transport and European Funds ministers - Paul Stanescu, Felix Stroe and Marius Nica, respectively - have been validated by the National Executive Committee (CExN) of the PSD with unanimity of votes, also mentioning that the political decision to keep Viorel Ilie, the Minister for the Relation with Parliament, in the Government, belonged to the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE), PSD's partner in the ruling coalition.
The three politicians who were named will replace resigning ministers Sevil Shhaideh, Rovana Plumb and Razvan Cuc.
"I presented to my colleagues of the Executive Committee, the proposals for ministers: for the office of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development and European Funds Paul Stanescu, a Senator, for Minister of Transport, Felix Stroe, currently the head of PSD's Constanta branch and general manager of RAJA. The proposal for Minister-delegate for European funds is Marius Nica. They were all unanimously voted, except for Paul Stanescu, who had one vote against, cast by Nicu Baniciou," said Dragnea, at the end of the meeting.
He also added that the Social Democrats did not give up Sevil Shhaideh and Rovana Plumb, who resigned from the Government.
"Our two colleagues decided to resign, in order to put an end, thus, to a situation that seemed without solution. However, last night, the PSD members unanimously showed support for the two ladies, (...) in the context of a widespread feeling in our society that should trigger a signal against these abuses that are made," said Dragnea.
He also specified that keeping Minister Viorel Ilie in office has been ALDE's political decision.
"This was a political decision of ALDE. We discussed these matters this morning in the coalition, too, and this is how things turned out. PSD is not frustrated because of Mr. Ilie, but is frustrated over the actual situation, not because of Mr. Ilie," said Dragnea.
The PSD leader announced that Rovana Plumb will take over the president office of the Committee on European Affairs of the Deputies Chamber, as this office was empty, while Adrian Tutuianu will become Quaestor of the Senate, as soon as Paul Stanescu leaves to take over the Ministry of Development. Razvan Cuc is already a MP," Dragnea added.
Sevil Shhaideh has been appointed state counselor and she will continue to work for the government, Prime Minister Mihai Tudose made an announcement on Friday, at the end of the meeting of the National Executive Committee (CExN) of the Social Democratic Party (PSD).
"I believe she already is (state counselor - editor's note) at this time. The papers were signed in the morning," said Tudose.
About the fact that he is keeping Shhaideh to work for the Government, although, back when the announcement regarding the government reshuffle was made, he pointed out that in Shhaideh's case there were criminal charges involved, he specified: "I said that there are problems that, because of the criminal nature of the accusations, and not because the ladies are actually guilty (naming here Shhaideh and Plumb - editor's note), could affect their activity in what the relation with Bruxelles is concerned."
"Otherwise, she will continue to be of very much help to us as a state counselor, for she has experience and I believe that she is the best in the country in this area, which means regional development and administrative reform," claimed the Prime Minister.
Asked whether the former Minister of Transport Razvan Cuc was to be also kept to work for the Government, the PM said: He is a MP."
Prime Minister Mihai Tudose stated that the decision to keep Minister for Relations with Parliament Viorel Ilie in the Gov't belonged to the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE), partner in the ruling coalition with the Social Democratic Party (PSD), and it will be observed as such.
"Well, I understand that the decision was already made, you know. Our partners from ALDE decided to keep him in the Government, and we are in a partnership. We did what we had to do in our territory," the PM stated on Friday at the end of the National Executive Committee (CExN) of PSD.
When asked if he is not bothered by this, the PM replied: "Well, it's their opinion, we are allies."
Tudose explained that, unlike Sevil Shhaideh and Rovana Plumb, Viorel Ilie, although facing a criminal investigation, he doesn't work with Brussels.
Paul St?nescu, agronomist by profession, is the head of the PSD Olt organization and Felix Stroe, the head of the PSD Constanta branch. According to judicial sources, St?nescu is however targeted in a DNA investigation, next to former Finance minister Darius Vâlcov, related to crimes in the public procurement sector allegedly committed some time ago. There are in rem investigations, after the court re-opened the file in 2015.
Felix Stroe is a marine officer by profession and has taken over the helm of the PSD leadership in Constanta from the controversial duo Radu Mazare-Nicusor Constantinescu, although he says he hasn’t been close to them. He has double citizenship, Romanian and Moldovan.
Marius Nica held the position of minister for European Funds also in the Ponta Cabinet.
Stanescu is known as one of the most influential Social Democrat barons, aka the ‘baron of Olt’, while 36-year-old Nica is known as Rovana Plumb’s apprentice.