November 20 (SeeNews) - The decision-making body of Romania's ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) has agreed to replace eight cabinet ministers over their weak performance, prime minister Viorica Dancila said.
"We did these changes because there is always room for improvements, because we have new challenges to face both in the government and in our EU presidency mandate which we will begin on January 1, 2019," Dancila announced during a party conference on Monday evening.
Labor minister Lia Olguta Vasilescu will take over the transport ministry from Lucian Sova. Vasilescu will be replaced by Marius Budai at the labour ministry.
PSD senator Niculae Badalau is nominated as economy minister to replace Danut Andrusca, while senator Daniel Breaz will take over the culture ministry from George Ivascu.
Also, regional development minister Paul Stanescu will be replaced by former business and entrepreneurship minister Ilan Laufer, while Alexandru Petrescu will become the country' s new communications minister.
Finally, Bogdan Matei will replace Ioana Bran as youth and sports minister, while Gabriel Les will replace defence minister Mihai Fifor.
On Monday, Fifor announced his resignation, saying he would like to focus on work within the PSD. Fifor's statement was made shortly before a meeting of the PSD executive committee.
The nominations need to be approved by president Klaus Iohannis.
Fifor is the second minister to resign over a week. On November 12, EU affairs minister Victor Negrescu resigned without giving a reason.
Two days later, Romania's president Klaus Iohannis endorsed the appointment of George Ciamba as new European affairs minister.