The recent resignations of Interior Minister Ioan Rus and Paul Dobre, Minister delegate at the Administration, have triggered the first government reshuffle of the Ponta cabinet in Romania. Five new ministers were sworn in already on Monday evening (August 6 ).

Meanwhile, head of records Constantin Manoloiu has been formally charged because of inconsistencies in the data he was planning to send to the Constitutional Court following the referendum for Traian Basescu’s impeachment.

Both Rus and Dobre cite the July 29 referendum as their reason for stepping down. Ioan Rus previously said there was pressure from both suspended president Basescu and interim president Crin Antonescu for him to resign.

Ioan Rus proposed a “mini census” for the verification of the electoral rolls, which Basescu's supporters claimed was an attempt to manipulate the results and make the referendum valid. The Constitutional Court then released a statement indicating that it had not requested the mini census, only the electoral rolls from before the referendum.

Ioan Rus was replaced by Mircea Dusa (PSD) as Interior Minister, who was previously the government liaison to parliament. Dusa's place was taken by Senator Dan Sova (PSD), and Victor Paul Dobre was replaced by Radu Stroe of the National Liberal Party (PNL). He is a known opponent of Traian Basescu and the two have clashed many times. Mihai Alexandru Voicu replaced Lucian Isar as liaison minister with the business environment.

Titus Corlateanu lost the external portfolio at the Justice Ministry and Andrei Marga will be sent as ambassador to Germany. The new Minister of Justice is Mona Pivniceru, who was previously a judge at the High Court of Cassation and Justice and is a member of the Superior Council of Magistrates.

Ioana Toader, ioana.toader@romania-insider.com

(photo source: gov.ro)