Second Ponta cabinet

Ponta II Cabinet was the Council of Ministers which governed Romania from 21 December 2012 to 5 March 2014. A crisis inside the ruling coalition, the Social Liberal Union, resulted in the split of the governing alliance and collapse of the government.

Ponta II

122nd Cabinet of Romania
Date formed21 December 2012
Date dissolved5 March 2014
People and organisations
Head of stateTraian Băsescu
Head of governmentVictor Ponta
No. of ministers28
Member partiesPSD, PNL, PC, UNPR
Status in legislatureCoalition
Opposition partiesPDL, UDMR, FC, PNȚCD, PP-DD, PMP
Opposition leadersVasile Blaga, Hunor Kelemen, Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu, Aurelian Pavelescu, Dan Diaconescu, Eugen Tomac
History
Election(s)9 December 2012
Legislature term(s)2012–2016
Budget(s)116.3 billion lei
PredecessorPonta I
SuccessorPonta III

History

On 17 December 2012, after USL victory in the legislative elections of 9 December, President Traian Băsescu nominated Victor Ponta to form a new government, this being the only person proposed by the parliamentary parties. Ponta II Cabinet received the vote of confidence of the Parliament on 21 December, with 402 votes "for" and 120 "against".

Ponta II Cabinet was composed of three deputy prime ministers, 15 ministers and nine minister-delegates. The three deputy prime ministers were: Liviu Dragnea (PSD) – Minister of Administration and Regional Development, Daniel Chițoiu (PNL) – Minister of Finance and Gabriel Oprea (UNPR) – deputy prime minister without portfolio in the field of defense and national security.

Ponta II Cabinet was composed of 60 state secretaries (13 more than in Ponta I Cabinet) and 120 heads of agencies.

Controversies

Minister Relu Fenechiu left on 12 July 2013 the Ministry of Transport, after he was handed a five-year prison sentence for corruption.[1][2] The interim was taken by Prime Minister Victor Ponta. But, at its expiration, PNL was somehow obliged to submit a proposal to the Prime Minister for the position of Minister of Transport. There was conveyed the name of Nini Săpunaru, but after Ponta publicly opposed the proposal, PNL has submitted another name candidate to the ministry's seat – Ramona Mănescu. The Prime Minister accepted the proposal, and so, Ramona Mănescu took the oath on 26 August.[3]

Another minister that submitted the resignation is Varujan Vosganian, responsible for Economy. This comes after the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism asked the criminal prosecution against Vosganian, for gaff and undermining the national economy.[4] Sources inside USL said that Vosganian resigned upon the request of Prime Minister Victor Ponta.[5]

On 12 December 2013, Minister of Culture Daniel Barbu resigned after displaced statements on "too big" budget for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS.[6] His declarations sparked public outrage, being sanctioned by the National Council for Combating Discrimination.[7] A few days before, President of the Senate Crin Antonescu said that Barbu should resign.

2014 governmental crisis

A major crisis is shaking the current government of Romania.[8] It was triggered a few days after PNL, constituent party of government, announced the reshuffling of four ministers. Tensions between leaders of the two major parties of government, Victor Ponta (PSD) and Crin Antonescu (PNL), grew until 25 February, when PNL decided in an overwhelming majority to leave the ruling coalition.[9] A day later, all PNL ministers resigned.[10] This situation puts the current Prime Minister Victor Ponta in difficulty, inasmuch as he is forced to form a new government.

Structure
Ministry Name Party In office since Until
Prime MinisterVictor PontaPSD7 May 20125 March 2014
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Regional Development and Public AdministrationLiviu DragneaPSD21 December 20125 March 2014
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Public FinanceDaniel ChițoiuPNL21 December 201219 February 2014
Victor PontaPSD19 February 2014 (acting)5 March 2014
Deputy Prime MinisterGabriel OpreaUNPR21 December 20125 March 2014
Minister of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentDaniel ConstantinPC7 May 20125 March 2014
Minister of Foreign AffairsTitus CorlățeanPSD6 August 20125 March 2014
Minister of Internal AffairsRadu StroePNL21 December 201223 January 2014
Gabriel OpreaUNPR23 January 2014 (acting)5 March 2014
Minister of National DefenceMircea DușaPSD21 December 20125 March 2014
Minister of JusticeMona PivniceruInd.23 August 201228 March 2013
Victor PontaPSD28 March 2013 (acting)15 April 2013
Robert CazanciucInd.15 April 20135 March 2014
Minister for Environment and Climate ChangeRovana PlumbPSD7 May 20125 March 2014
Minister of EconomyVarujan VosganianPNL21 December 20127 October 2013
Daniel ChițoiuPNL7 October 2013 (acting)17 October 2013
Andrei GereaPNL17 October 201319 February 2014
Constantin NițăPSD19 February 2014 (acting)5 March 2014
Minister for Information SocietyDan NicaPSD7 May 20125 March 2014
Minister of HealthEugen NicolăescuPNL21 December 20125 March 2014
Minister of National EducationRemus PricopiePSD21 December 20125 March 2014
Minister of Labour, Family, Social Protection and EldersMariana CâmpeanuPNL7 May 20125 March 2014
Minister of European FundsEugen TeodoroviciPSD21 December 20125 March 2014
Minister of TransportRelu FenechiuPNL21 December 201212 July 2013
Victor PontaPSD12 July 2013 (acting)26 August 2013
Ramona MănescuPNL26 August 20135 March 2014
Minister of CultureDaniel BarbuPNL21 December 201212 December 2013
Gigel ȘtirbuPNL12 December 20135 March 2014
Minister of Youth and SportsNicolae BănicioiuPSD21 December 20125 March 2014
Minister Delegate for BudgetLiviu VoineaPSD21 December 20125 March 2014
Minister Delegate for Water, Forests and FisheriesLucia VargaPNL21 December 20125 March 2014
Minister Delegate for Infrastructure Projects of National Interest and Foreign InvestmentDan ȘovaPSD21 December 20125 March 2014
Minister Delegate for Small and Medium Enterprises, Business Environment and TourismMaria GrapiniPC21 December 20125 March 2014
Minister Delegate for EnergyConstantin NițăPSD21 December 20125 March 2014
Minister Delegate for Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technological DevelopmentMihnea CostoiuPSD21 December 20125 March 2014
Minister Delegate for Relations with ParliamentMihai VoicuPNL21 December 20125 March 2014
Minister Delegate for Romanians AbroadCristian DavidPNL21 December 20125 March 2014
Minister Delegate for Social DialogueDoina PanăPSD21 December 20125 March 2014

References
  1. Radu Marinaș (12 July 2013). "Romania sentences transport minister to jail for graft". Reuters.
  2. Ondine Gherguț (12 July 2013). "Ministrul Relu Fenechiu, condamnat la 5 ani închisoare cu EXECUTARE, plus 3 ani pedepsă complementară. El a DEMISIONAT de la Transporturi". România Liberă.
  3. V.M. (25 August 2013). "Victor Ponta, de acord cu numirea Ramonei Mănescu ca ministru al Transporturilor. Crin Antonescu: Dacă aceasta e opțiunea premierului, o salut". HotNews.ro.
  4. "DIICOT: Varujan Vosganian și Adriean Videanu sunt cercetați penal în dosarul ROMGAZ". Digi24.ro. 2 September 2013.
  5. L. Pîrvu (7 October 2013). "Varujan Vosganian și-a dat demisia din funcția de ministru al Economiei, dar își păstrează imunitate parlamentară". HotNews.ro.
  6. "Ministrul Culturii, Daniel Barbu, a demisionat după declarațiile privind bugetul anti-HIV". Realitatea.net. 12 December 2013.
  7. Laura Mitran (16 December 2013). "Daniel Barbu, sancționat cu avertisment de CNCD, pentru afirmațiile privind programul anti-HIV". Gândul.
  8. "PNL's Klaus Iohannis: Governmental crisis has set in". ACTMedia. 14 February 2014.
  9. "It's official: Romania's ruling coalition collapses as PNL leaves Government, asks PM to resign". Romania-Insider.com. 25 February 2014.
  10. "USL, divorț urât. Miniștrii liberali au demisionat, UDMR se pregătește să revină la guvernare. Lista interimarilor". Știrile PRO TV. 26 February 2014.
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