Romania nominates MEP Victor Negrescu as EU Commissioner

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The Romanian government has nominated Socialist MEP Victor Negrescu, currently vice president of the European Parliament, for the post of European Commissioner, Prime Minister Marcel Cioracu announced on Thursday.

“As far as the commissioner is concerned, this is not the first time I say this: we have chosen a name. It is Mr Victor Negrescu, the current vice-president of the European Parliament,” Ciolacu said in Brussels after a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday (August 22).

The nomination of the 39-year-old Romanian-born MEP is expected to be formalized on Monday (August 26).

So far, there has been no indication that the Romanian government is considering co-nominating a female commissioner, which only adds insult to injury to von der Leyen, who had asked each country to submit two names: one male and one female.

So far, governments have nominated 16 men and six women, including von der Leyen herself.

Asked if he had discussed the proposal with President Klaus Iohannis, Prime Minister Ciolaku appeared to deny it, saying: “I have discussed it with the president several times in the past”.

Cioulaku and Iohannis have been at odds since Cioulaku took over as leader of the Social Democratic Party in 2019.

Recently, there have been voices suggesting that Iohannis should support National Liberal Party leader Nicolae Ciuca for the presidency of Romania, and it seems that neither Iohannis nor Ciuca will miss a chance to attack each other.

Ciolacu also mentioned that discussions must take place within the ruling coalition, which includes the PNL, as PNL leader Nicolae Ciucă has accused the Social Democrats of delaying the nomination of commissioners.

“Romania is one of the countries that has not yet nominated an EU commissioner. As the title suggests, the EU commissioner represents Romania, not the Social Democrats, who seem to understand this less and less,” said Ciuca.

In 2019, former Social Democratic Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă also proposed Negrescu for the post of EU Commissioner, but President Klaus Iohannis did not accept the nomination after Dăncilă’s government fell following a no-confidence vote.

(Editing by Daniel Ek)