The Bolojan Cabinet list certainly looks better than the options circulated in recent days, but it remains suffocating in the PSD area. And beyond the direct effects, the proposals also have important strategic political implications.
PNL
The most anticipated were, as expected, the choices of Prime Minister Bolojan. He managed to get rid of Marcel Boloș, closely associated with the disasters of previous governments, but considered a close ally, for whom many (including myself) were waiting to see as "prime minister."
Evidently, he trusts Cătălin Predoiu, whose role in maintaining Romania's balance between November and now is as little known to the public as it is important.
He brings Alexandru Nazare back into the spotlight, marginalized after a not-so-bad term at Finance and linked to the National Bank of Romania. It was expected that Mr. David would remain in Education, perhaps if he manages to build a solid team without the rest of the ministry's fossilized leadership, he will move from analysis to action.
Mr. Bolojan places the presidential chancellery, a key position, in the hands of Mihai Jurcă, a young man he mentored, encouraged to study abroad, extremely well-prepared, as shown in the interview I had the opportunity to conduct a few years ago when he was the city manager of Oradea.
The surprising placement of former MEP Dragoș Pîslaru at European Funds, a portfolio for which he is fully qualified, symbolically equates with the entry into government of REPER, the party split from USR that Mr. Pîslaru led until last year.
In this way, Mr. Bolojan takes an important step towards a possible absorption of REPER and other small parties into PNL, probably greatly facilitated by the good relationship between the prime minister and Dacian Cioloș. Therefore, it is an appointment that paves the way for the recovery of political forces that have been wasted until now.
Dragoș Anastasiu, his former honorary advisor at the Cotroceni Palace, in the position of deputy prime minister for state reform, has multiple implications. On one hand, it signifies an outreach to the business environment to be a partner in state reform. It sends a strong message towards the promised demolitions at the USR congress and, not least, with specific private management methods, precise deadlines, careful monitoring, which will be Mr. Anastasiu's tasks.
It is understood that his role will be extremely important, with significant reform powers even within the ministries, which are not entitled to oppose.
PSD
The PSD list reflects exactly what I wrote a few days ago, the Grindeanu - Ciolacu group managed a consolidation of positions, the only thing that mattered in the allocation of functions after the comedy of the competition or whatever it was.
Marian Neacșu remains deputy prime minister, Stănescu keeps Agriculture through Barbu, Justice is secured through Marinescu, Grindeanu's man takes over Transport and Labor goes to another protege, the spokesperson, Mr. Manole. Only at Health, Carmen Orban was missed, but State Secretary Rogobete was designated, a great admirer of Dana Budeanu and the person who handled the PNRR in the ministry until now.
In other words, no changes and, implicitly, no acknowledgment of any errors. The Ciolacu team continues.
Installed in the Chamber of Deputies, with a rotating role in the government agreement, if he manages to appoint Mihai Busuioc to the Constitutional Court and a loyalist to the SIE, it is unlikely that Sorin Grindeanu can miss the August congress.
It is difficult for Ilie Bolojan to oppose now, as it would mean extending the investiture calendar until the end of the week. It remains to be seen how the reform will proceed with this octopus.
USR
USR has taken on 4 heavy ministries, appointing party members, two with presidential veto approval. Two of the appointments, Radu Miruță in Economy and Diana Buzoianu, are good both in terms of preparation and the field of activity of these two politicians.
However, two are debatable and risky. Ms. Țoiu is a decent, hardworking politician, but absolutely nothing in her CV and experience recommends her for this extremely challenging position, which requires special qualifications, contacts, recognition, especially in the current period. No matter how eager to learn you may be, the qualification of the Foreign Minister at the workplace is not desirable.
Mr. Moșteanu has a serious CV problem, being a graduate of one of the most dubious diploma mills, Bioterra, which has since been shut down for forgeries. What the three years of Automatics at the Polytechnic in his CV meant is not clear, but it certainly was not a graduation, as this faculty used to last 5 years at that time.
In the case of both, the argument "anyway, they are better than their predecessors" seems toxic to me. The predecessors are not the benchmark; USR was the first from which new standards of competence, studies, and academic integrity were expected.
UDMR
It was natural for Cseke Attila to remain in Development, where he did a good job, but with less power, as investments will be drastically cut. Culture returns to the Hungarians, as no one wanted it, although, as someone said, everyone puts their hand on their heart when the anthem is sung. It was natural for Mr. Kelemen Hunor not to return to the ministry as long as a party-line subordinate, Tanczos Barna, would have been his chief as deputy prime minister.
However, the discussion does not stop here. The government does not only mean ministers but also state secretaries, appointed by the prime minister, and there the political battle is always fierce, with often questionable names and an expanded number.
Already, the government sets off with a large number of deputy prime ministers, covering both needs and sensitivities of a heavy coalition. If the number of state secretaries is also very high, and appointments are made according to the interests of political branches, the chances of reform will be compromised.
The same goes for the allocation of agencies and other key state institutions. It would be logical for restructuring and mergers to be done before the distribution begins.