New Economy Minister's first move: replacement of Transgaz boss

Florin Muntean, general manager of state-held natural gas transmission company Transgaz, which was worth 690 million euros yesterday on the Stock Exchange, has been removed from his position, and replaced by Florin Cosma, manager of the national natural gas dispatcher. Although changing general managers in subordinated companies has already become a tradition for every new minister, the Sibiu press writes that the replacement of the general manager of Transgaz comes after Florin Muntean had resigned as early as on Friday citing personal reasons. The Sibiu press also writes that Florin Cosma is an old Transgaz employee, who, unlike many managers in state-held companies, is not involved in politics. Muntean, on the other hand, is president of the Mediaş organisation of the PD-L's (ruling Democratic Liberal Party) Media and vice-president of PD-L's county organisation. The change in Transgaz's management comes in the context where the Ministry of Economy has been run for nearly a month by Ion Ariton, brought to the helm of the instituion after Adriean Videanu's departure. Transgaz representatives were not available for comment on the matter, but confirmed the information and specified the company would be back with a release. Representatives of the Ministry of Economy also failed to give an answer by the time this issue was ready for print.