PSD to decide over vacant ministries, critical voices in the party. Ponta denies taking over Justice portolio. Dragnea: “There is no break in the party”

The Social Democrat leaders are expected to meet to decide who is going to take over the two interim minister offices, Justice and Business Environment, but also to debate the recent tensions in the party stirred by the SocDem mayor of Iasi, Mihai Chirica, who had slammed chairman Liviu Dragnea and the Government’s decisions lately, including the adoption of the controversial emergency ordinance no 13, which intended to amend the criminal law and to decriminalize certain corruption and grift offenses.

PSD sources to local news agencies revealed that such a meeting could take place at the end of this week or early next week.

The Justice ministry office is vacant after Florin Iordache, the initiator of the controversial emergency ordinance 13, has resigned over mass protests. Ana Birchall, minister delegate for European Affair was appointed interim minister of Justice until new minister is named.

Meanwhile, the media rumored on potential persons who might take over the Justice portfolio, with former PM Victor Ponta among them.

Yet, the former premier on Tuesday denied the information, stating that no one proposed him to be minister of Justice and that he neither wanted this position, arguing that the last time he was minister of Justice he has made only mistakes.

“I said I am not interested and I won’t retort to all gossips and nonsense on the market. However, I have to mention: nobody proposed to be minister of Justice and I don’t want that at all! Is that clear? (the last time I was minister of Justice I made only mistakes!,” Ponta posted on social media.

The rumour about Ponta’s taking over the vacant Justice portfolio was fueled by the Labour minister Lia Olguta Vasilescu, who told B1TV on Monday that it’s possible that Ponta would joint Grindeanu Gov’t, by taking over the Justice portfolio.

On the other hand, regarding the recent attacks against the party launched from the inside, through the voice of the PSD mayor of Iasi, Mihai Chirica, there were many old PSD members who criticized Chirica and suggested he might leave the party if he wasn’t to obey the party policy. However, the PSD chairman Liviu Dragnea denied the existence of any breaks in the party.

Asked if there is a break in PSD, Dragnea answered: “No, not even a broken leg.”

Asked to comment the statements that PSD needs to be reformed, the PSD chairman added: “ I know. PSD has always had Chirici in its history (hinting to Mihai Chirica’s accusations). The party will have a stance on these voices in the upcoming days. As a matter of fact there is only one such voice, but it is a very important voice. The same voice that supported president Iohannis when he had refused Mrs. Sevil Shhaideh, despite the endorsement of the coalition that had won elections. Regarding the relation with PM Sorin Grindeanu it is the same today as it was before the discussions on forming the Government.”

When a reporter asked him if Sorin Grindeanu would be a better leader for PSD than himself, Dragnea said: “Another question. To quote from a classic alive.” (referring to ex-Justice minister Florin Iordache’s tic.