Romanian Parliament approves Ponta’s 4th cabinet. Who are the new ministers?

The new Government formula, with seven ministers changed based on PM Victor Ponta’s proposals sent on Sunday, was approved by the Romanian Parliament on Monday with 377 votes for and 134 votes against.

The Ministry of Finance will integrate with the Ministry of Budget and will once again coordinate both the fiscal policy and the issues related to the state’s budget. The newly formed Ministry will be headed by Darius Valcov, who took on as budget minister in August 2014, replacing Liviu Voinea, who was appointed deputy governor of Romania’s National Bank (BNR). Ioana Petrescu, former Finance minister, will return to her duties as Counselor.

The economy Ministry was taken over by Andrei Gerea, representing Tariceanu’s Liberal Reformist Party (PLR). Gerea replaces Constantin Nita and has served as economy minister in the past, in another of Ponta’s cabinets, from October 2013 to February 2014.

SME’s have been moved from Tourism to Energy, into a new ministry which will be ran by Mihai Tudose. Tudose is a member of PSD and has served as president of the Economic Policies, Reform and Privatization committee in the Romanian Deputies’ Chamber.

Social-Democrat Party (PSD) deputy Sorin Grindeanu received the approval of the parliamentary commissions, being validated as Minister for Information Society, replacing Razvan Cotovelea. He has been a PSD member since November 1996 and held various positions in the county’s youth organization. Between 2004- 2008, he was Timisoara local counselor.

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The new minister of education is Sorin Cimpeanu, who has been serving as provost of the Agronomic Sciences University in Bucharest. Cimpeanu represents the Conservative Party in the new government, although he officially is not a member.

The new culture minister is Ionut Vulpescu, 38, who served in the past as counselor for former Romanian President Ion Iliescu. With a licence in theology and a doctorate in philosophy, for the last two years he has been a member of the Chamber of Deputies Commission for Culture.