PSD sacks Ana Birchall from the Justice Ministry. Who is to replace her? The proposals for Interior and Education ministries

Several months after naming her as Justice minister to fill the vacancy of Tudorel Toader, ruling PSD is sacking Ana Birchall.

It seems that Birchall’s dismissal comes following the Social Democrat barons’ discontent with her actions and intention to disband the special section for investigating magistrates.

Birchall will be proposed for the deputy PM on strategic partnership. Instead, the ruling party has proposed Dana Gârbovan to take the Justice Ministry’s leadership. Gârbovan, a magistrate and president of the National Union of the Judges in Romania, has been a supporter of the PSD’ stand against the anti-corruption fight and has strongly lobbied for amending the justice laws.

Birchall has not yet provided a reaction to her dismissal, but sources reported she would have gone to Cotroceni Palace immediately after the party CEx meeting. In retort, PM Dancila said that if the information confirms, it is very serious, adding that Birchall is a PSD member and the problems are solved within the party.

On the other hand, the Executive Committee of PSD held today has nominated Mihia Fifor to take the helm of Interior Ministry, senator Şerban Valeca for the Education portfolio and Iulian Iancu as deputy PM on economic issues.

Asked before the PSD meeting whom she is endorsing for the Education, PM Viorica Dăncilă replied: “I will tell you after the CEx vote. A person who should know the system“.

After the nomination, Valeca, the leader of Arges PSD organisation, said that one of his mandate’s priorities will be to revamp the Romanian schools. He though admitted that he is not familiar with the topic of delayed schoolbooks for the 7th grade.

The history of the PSD’s gripe against Birchall

Local mass media reported that PSD leaders have become discontent with Ana Birchall’s moves, including with her denial to promote party members at the Justice ministry. Birchall would have strongly rejected PSD’s being involved in the ministry.

One of the proposals she advanced for a secretary of state position is Gheorghe Muscalu, former DIICOT Head and former vice-president of the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM).

Sources revealed that Ana Birchall and PM Viorica Dancila had engaged in a row one month ago over the Special Section for investigating magistrates, as the JusMin wanted to bring again under institutional control.

For this reason, Birchall has become more and more despised by the PSD members, with PM Dancila herself confessing her regret that she named Birchall at the helm of the Justice Ministry within a meeting with the US Attorney General.

Moreover, it seems that Birchall has also clashed with Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici, as Birchall drafted a bill to take the anti-fraud inspectors out of Teodorovici’s authority and relocate them within the prosecutor’s offices.