Romanian Justice Ministry still without permanent head

Joi, 28 februarie 2008, 17:01 English | Top News

Romanian PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu postpones sending his proposals for the Justice and Defense ministries for presidential approval. That comes despite both the decision and the argument of the Constitutional Court on a dispute between Tariceanu and President Basescu, which led to the failed nomination of a senator, Norica Nicolai, to head the Justice Ministry have long been published in Romania's Official Gazette. Tariceanu seeks a solution for the Justice Ministry as current Justice interim, Teodor Melescanu might refuse to leave his main seat, that of Defense minister.

Sources within the Liberal party argue that the prime minister has no backup nominee if Melescanu refuses to change seats. Thus, if this will be the case, his interim rule will be extended by 45 days unless PM Tariceanu finds someone else in the meantime.

One solution would be Renate Weber, currently a Liberal MEP, but sources argue that she does not want to give up her European Parliament position for a short period as head of the Justice Ministry.

However, this situation negatively impacts Romania's image in the European structures. EU officials argue that the more the government postpones to name someone at the Justice Ministry, the bigger the chances that the Ministry would not be able to comply with its European promises, as the EU prepares a monitoring report on the evolution of the embattled Romanian justice sector this summer.