PSD (the Social Democrat Party) has given up the idea of organising early elections or of having the entire Cabinet resign for good, the party leader says. A government reshuffle is also not a subject for discussion, as it would not make any "substantial" impact on the Government structure, but create "all sorts" of problems instead, Adrian Nastase yesterday added.
Although the Cabinet comprises several ministers challenged by the opposition and the civil society - Justice minister Rodica Stanoiu, Public Information minister Vasile Dancu or the Government general secretary Serban Mihailescu are but some of the names, the Premier says he has no problem with any of the Cabinet members because the team is "consistent and united", capable of focusing on the future projects to "reduce poverty and improve the living standards."
During the debates on the early elections issue last year, Nastase argued his choices by the need for governance continuity until 2007. The message later changed and the PM started talking about the mandatory renewal of the Government structures and of the ruling programme based on the "new realities" - Romania's invitation to join the NATO and the EU accession date set for 2007.
The idea of a reshuffle came from President Ion Iliescu last year. Last week, the President confirmed the matter would be discussed at the Cotroceni Palace this Friday, during a meeting between the head of state and a PSD delegation. He revised his statements later, saying reshuffling is the Prime Minister's prerogative.
It was Nastase's turn to comment on the yesterday: "Some people simply cannot grasp the meaning of reshuffle. Reshuffling - the PM says, makes no substantial changes, it is just a way for the Prime Minister to propose the President to replace one individual with another. I have no problems with the current team, which is consistent and united."
The Premier mentioned the solution of keeping the current Government was chosen after two options (organising early elections and having the entire Government resign) that he had suggested were rejected.
"Circumstances caused the early elections option to be practically eliminated (...) I came up with another option (the entire Cabinet resignation i.e.), which also stirred a certain nervosity. The second option would have entailed reviewing the Government structure, thinking about new ministries, shedding some ministries. We would have therefore targeted structures instead of people, but we gave up," the PM explained.
This is precisely why reshuffling is not an option, because it means "replacing people" only and "does not address the essential issue." "We are moving on with this team and this is what the party wants," the Prime Minister specified.
He added the current team would focus on the future priorities, which targeted "reducing poverty", as well as the constitutional, institutional and election system reform.
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