Update: Minister Cristian Ghinea resigns, to run on USR lists in general elections. Two secretaries of state also submit resignations

Minister for European Funds, Cristian Ghinea, has decided to accept the offer coming from Save Romania Union (USR) and to run on its lists in parliamentary elections, government sources say. Ghinea has announced his resignation.

USR is to announce its candidates on Wednesday, by 15.00h.

PM Dacian Ciolos is expected to replace Ghinea at the ministry’s helm at the government sitting.

“My last participation to the government sitting as a member of the Cioloş I cabinet. It’s a strange feeling. Looking back it seems a century has passed, but I’ve been minister only six months, it’s less than a year since I went to the Chancellery. It was intense. And it was an honour! Today something else begins,” the minister wrote on his Facebook page.

Other resignations

Secretary of state with the Labour Ministry, Ciprian Necula, has announced his resignation on Wednesday to run on the Social-democratic Party (PSD) lists for general elections on December 11. Sources say another secretary of state, with the Transport Ministry, Ionut Mosteanu, is to run for USR.

Ciprian Necula wrote on his Facebook page: “Yes, I am going to run! I didn’t imagine this one year ago. I’ve been in office as Secretary of state with the Ministry for European Funds for one year and a half, appointed by Victor Ponta.” He added that he would, naturally, resign.

Let’s recall that the former secretary of state with the Economy Ministry, Manuel Costescu, quit his office in order to run on USR lists for Diapora at the Chamber of Deputies.