While the Social Democrat Party (PSD) and its leaders claim there are no tensions between the party and the Government and the premier, PM Mihai Tudose took a step forward and somehow contradicted what the ruling party leaders say.
Tudose has confirmed at Antena 3 on Monday night there is going to be “a mini-reshuffle” of the current Cabinet, arguing that “three ministers cause trouble in terms of public opinion perception and in some situations at the level of the European Commission”.
He said the reshuffle is going to take place this week. “I will take some tough, but necessary measures this week”, Tudose said.
As the premier didn’t give any name, mass media started speculating on the ministers who will be potentially sacked. Some say the ministers currently facing criminal investigations will leave their positions, meaning deputy PM Sevil Shhaideh and Environment minister Rovana Plumb, investigated in the Belina file, as well as the minister for the Parliament Liaison, Viorel Ilie.
Other newspapers say that the ministers risking reshuffle are Liviu Pop, the minister of Education and Florian Bodog, the Health minister. The first has faced growing anger amid public opinion after controversial statements related to education, blunders and grammar mistakes in his speeches. The latter is charged with plagiarizing his PhD thesis.
As a matter of fact, the premier admitted his relation with the PSD chairman Liviu Dragnea is not very good at the moment, saying that he is willing to resign “if the activity of his Cabinet is not working”. Concretely, Mihai Tudose suggests that Liviu Dragnea is behind a recent opinion poll released by the leftist sociologist Liviu Pieleanu at Antena 3, showing that the confidence in the Government “has collapsed in just a month”.
„I’ve said it in a circle of four persons that I will resign if things are so bad and the government has collapsed, let’s go home, it means we are not doing well,” Tudose stated.
Asked what is the relationship with Liviu Dragnea, the premier answered: „I couldn’t say that we are in a happy moment. We’ll clear things up tomorrow,” he said, adding that „we also have to get things straight at the Gov’t and clearly establish the relationshipw between the Government and the party”.
„This tension has reached some peaks, it’s either black or white. We either clear things up or someone is going home. I will assume the proposals (the reshuffle) and I’ll go in the Coalition. We’ ll try to find an explanation tomorrow. I think I have one, it’s not necessarily logic,” the PM pointed out.
Also questioned if he has something to reproach to himself, Tudose said „Frankly, nothing”.
„We’ll sign a contract with a large American company, General Dynamics tomorrow, in partnership with a company from Bucharest. These people are not unconscious by coming here, it’s a very good sign,” he argued.