First Boc cabinet
The Boc Cabinet was a coalition cabinet between the largest parliamentary parties, PD-L and the PSD. After the breakup of the legislative coalition, it was known as ”the first Boc Cabinet.” Despite the ambitious governing program, numerous conflicts erupted between the PDL and PSD leaders, each party blaming the other. In particular, president Traian Băsescu and Mircea Geoană, the leader of PSD, competed for the presidential elections in 2009. The coalition cabinet lasted less than one year.
Following the resignation of Liviu Dragnea (PSD) from the office of Minister of Administration and Interior, on 2 February 2009, the Parliament voted to unify the post of Deputy Prime Minister with the post of Minister of Administration and Interior.
On 1 October 2009, following the removal from office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Administration and Interior, Dan Nica (PSD), all the PSD Ministers resigned from the cabinet. As a result, all their offices were taken, ad interim by the PD-L, for a period no longer than 45 days. The cabinet should have received a new vote from the Parliament, as its political composition was changed. On 13 October 2009, for the first time in the post-communist history, the Parliament adopted a motion of no confidence (”moțiune de cenzură”), and Cabinet Boc was removed. It worked just an acting cabinet, with diminished power. Its term ended on 23 December 2009, when the new cabinet, headed also by Emil Boc received the vote of confidence from the Parliament and was sworn in at Cotroceni Palace. During the interim period, Traian Băsescu nominated repeatedly friendly candidates, despite the fact that the then opposition parties (PNL, PSD, UDMR, and the 18 representatives of the national ethnic minorities), having an absolute majority in both Houses of Parliament, expressed their will to nominate the Mayor of Sibiu Klaus Iohannis as Prime Minister.
Prime MinisterNamePartyPeriodPrime MinisterEmil BocDemocratic Liberal Party22 December 2008 – 23 December 2009Deputy Prime MinisterNamePartyPeriodDeputy Prime MinisterDan NicaSocial Democratic Party22 December 2008 – 1 October 2009Vasile Blaga (ad interim)Democratic Liberal Party1 October 2009 – 27 November 2009MinisterNamePartyPeriodJustice and Citizenship FreedomsCătălin PredoiuIndependent22 December 2008 – 23 December 2009National DefenseMihai StănișoarăDemocratic Liberal Party22 December 2008 – 23 December 2009Culture, Religious Affairs and National PatrimonyTheodor PaleologuDemocratic Liberal Party22 December 2008 – 23 December 2009Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentIlie SârbuSocial Democratic Party22 December 2008 – 1 October 2009Radu Berceanu (ad interim)Democratic Liberal Party1 October 2009 – 23 December 2009Public HealthIonuț BazacSocial Democratic Party22 December 2008 – 1 October 2009Adriean Videanu (ad interim)Democratic Liberal Party1 October 2009 – 23 December 2009Foreign AffairsCristian DiaconescuSocial Democratic Party22 December 2008 – 1 October 2009Cătălin Predoiu (ad interim)Independent1 October 2009 – 23 December 2009EconomyAdriean VideanuDemocratic Liberal Party22 December 2008 – 23 December 2009Public FinanceGheorghe PogeaDemocratic Liberal Party22 December 2008 – 23 December 2009Labor, Family and Social ProtectionMarian SârbuSocial Democratic Party22 December 2008 – 1 October 2009Gheorghe Pogea (ad interim)Democratic Liberal Party1 October 2009 – 23 December 2009Environment and Sustainable DevelopmentNicolae NemirschiSocial Democratic Party22 December 2008 – 1 October 2009Elena Udrea (ad interim)Democratic Liberal Party1 October 2009 – 23 December 2009Transport and InfrastructureRadu BerceanuDemocratic Liberal Party22 December 2008 – 23 December 2009Administration and InteriorGabriel OpreaSocial Democratic Party22 December 2008 – 13 January 2009Dan Nica (ad interim)13 January 2009 – 20 January 2009Liviu Dragnea20 January 2009 – 2 February 2009Dan Nica2 February 2009 – 1 October 2009Vasile Blaga (ad interim)Democratic Liberal Party1 October 2009 – 23 December 2009Regional Development and HousingVasile BlagaDemocratic Liberal Party22 December 2008 – 27 November 2009Education and ResearchEcaterina AndronescuSocial Democratic Party22 December 2008 – 1 October 2009Emil Boc (ad interim)Democratic Liberal Party1 October 2009 – 23 December 2009Youth and SportMonica Iacob RidziDemocratic Liberal Party22 December 2008 – 14 July 2009Sorina Luminița Plăcintă14 July 2009 – 23 December 2009TourismElena UdreaDemocratic Liberal Party22 December 2008 – 23 December 2009Communications and Information SocietyGabriel SanduDemocratic Liberal Party22 December 2008 – 23 December 2009Small and Medium Enterprises, Commerce and Business EnvironmentConstantin NițăSocial Democratic Party22 December 2008 – 1 October 2009Gabriel Sandu (ad interim)Democratic Liberal Party1 October 2009 – 23 December 2009Minister DelegateNamePartyPeriodRelations with ParliamentVictor PontaSocial Democratic Party22 December 2008 – 1 October 2009Sorina Luminița Plăcintă (ad interim)Democratic Liberal Party1 October 2009 – 23 December 2009
Proposed Croitoru and Negoiță cabinets
The Croitoru-proposed cabinet was Lucian Croitoru's proposal for the cabinet, composed of 14 ministers, listed below. It was proposed on 23 October 2009, and was rejected by the Parliament of Romania on 4 November 2009.
On 15 October 2009, President Traian Băsescu, citing the need for an individual well-versed in economic policy to steer Romania through the ongoing crisis, "Băsescu spune ca n-are nimic cu Iohannis dar România are nevoie de un premier cu experiență în economie" ("Băsescu Says He Has Nothing against Iohannis but that Romania Needs a Prime Minister with Economic Experience"), Ziarul Financiar, 14 October 2009; accessed 16 October 2009 nominated the politically independent Lucian Croitoru as Prime Minister in place of Emil Boc, whose cabinet fell after losing a motion of no confidence two days earlier. "Băsescu l-a desemnat pe Lucian Croitoru pentru funcția de premier" ("Băsescu Designates Lucian Croitoru Prime Minister"), Mediafax, 15 October 2009; accessed 15 October 2009 "Guvernul Boc 2 a fost demis" ("Boc 2 Government Dismissed"), Mediafax, 13 October 2009; accessed 13 October 2009 "Presa străină e sceptică: Lucian Croitoru e un bun specialist, dar are puține șanse să treacă de Parlament" ("Foreign Press Skeptical: Lucian Croitoru Is a Good Specialist, But Has Few Chances of Making It through Parliament"), Ziua, 15 October 2009; accessed 15 October 2009 The nomination was backed by the Democratic Liberal Party, which is supporting Băsescu in the upcoming presidential election, "Udrea: Îl vom susține pe Croitoru să formeze Guvernul, Johannis nu a dorit să discute cu noi" ("Udrea: We Will Support Croitoru to Form a Government; Iohannis Did Not Want to Discuss with Us"), Mediafax, 15 October 2009; accessed 15 October 2009 "Boc: PDL îl va susţine pe Traian Băsescu la funcţia de preşedinte" ("Boc: PDL Will Support Traian Băsescu for President") , România liberă, 19 September 2009; accessed 15 October 2009 but drew criticism from the rest of the parties represented in the Romanian Parliament (the Social Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party, the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania and the Parliamentary group of ethnic minorities), which backed Sibiu Mayor Klaus Iohannis for the position, "Geoană: Voi analiza posibilitatea sesizării CCR; Băsescu vrea perpetuarea Guvernului Boc" ("Geoană: I Will Analyse the Possibility of Going to the Constitutional Court; Băsescu Wishes to Perpetuate the Boc Government"), Mediafax, 15 October 2009; accessed 15 October 2009 "Antonescu: PNL nu va vota în Parlament decât pentru Iohannis" ("Antonescu: PNL Will Vote Only for Iohannis in Parliament"), Mediafax, 15 October 2009; accessed 15 October 2009 and vowed to challenge Croitoru's nomination at the Constitutional Court or derail it in Parliament. Alina Neagu, "Mircea Geoană: Lucian Croitoru nu are susţinere in Parlament și nu va fi premier. Băsescu trage de timp pentru a păstra Guvernul Boc până la alegeri" ("Mircea Geoană: Lucian Croitoru Does Not Have Parliamentary Support. Băsescu Is Stalling to Keep the Boc Government until the Elections"), HotNews.ro, 15 October 2009; accessed 15 October 2009 "Antonescu despre numirea lui Croitoru: Iresponsabilitate politică. Este vorba de dictatura unui om" ("Antonescu about Croitoru's Nomination: Political Irresponsibility. We Are Talking about a One-Man Dictatorship") , LiveNews.ro citing Antena 3, 15 October 2009; accessed 15 October 2009 In a meeting with Croitoru on 20 October, the four Parliamentary groups told Croitoru they would not vote for a cabinet headed by him, and asked him to refuse the nomination as prime minister."Romanian Social Democrat Leader Urges PM-Designate To Refuse Govt Leadership", Mediafax.ro. Retrieved 21 October 2009."Geoana: The unanimous decision of parliamentary majority is to support Iohannis for the PM seat". Financiarul. 20 October 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
On 23 October, Croitoru announced his proposed cabinet, which included 14 ministers, down from 18 in Emil Boc cabinet. There were 7 holdovers, and 7 new names (in addition to Croitoru). "Cabinetul Croitoru are 14 ministere. Premierul desemnat Lucian Croitoru a venit cu lista noului cabinet" , Europafm.ro, 23 October 2009. Retrieved 23 October 2009. "Cine sunt noii miniștri ai Cabinetului Croitoru", Realitatea.net, 23 October 2009. Retrieved 23 October 2009. "Croitoru a anunțat componența noului Guvern", Realitatea.net, 23 October 2009. Retrieved 23 October 2009. "Guvernul Croitoru – lista ministrilor", Ziare.com, 23 October 2009. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
The Ministry of Youth and Sport would be merged with the Ministry of Education and Research and Innovation, the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises, Commerce and Business Environment which will be merged with the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Tourism which will be merged with the Ministry of Regional Development. Five current ministerial posts (of Youth and Sport, Small and Medium Enterprise, Tourism, Communications, and Relations with Parliament), as well as the post of Deputy Prime Minister would be cancelled.
Prime Minister designateNamePartyPrime MinisterLucian CroitoruIndependentMinister nominationNamePartyAdministration and InteriorEmerich Florin ȘaghyIndependentForeign AffairsBogdan AurescuIndependentPublic FinanceGheorghe PogeaDemocratic Liberal PartyJustice and Citizenship FreedomsCătălin PredoiuIndependent, proposed byDemocratic Liberal PartyEducation and ResearchDaniel FuneriuIndependentNational DefenseMihai StănișoarăDemocratic Liberal PartyEconomyAdriean VideanuDemocratic Liberal PartyAgriculture and Rural DevelopmentAdrian RădulescuIndependentLabor, Family and Social ProtectionMihai ȘeitanDemocratic Liberal PartyTransportRadu BerceanuDemocratic Liberal PartyRegional Development, Housing and TourismVasile BlagaDemocratic Liberal PartyEnvironment and Sustainable DevelopmentSulfina BarbuDemocratic Liberal PartyPublic HealthCristian VlădescuIndependentCulture, Religious Affairs and National PatrimonyTheodor PaleologuDemocratic Liberal Party
Following the rejection by Parliament of the Croitoru Cabinet, dubbed in the press as the second Boc cabinet without Boc, President Băsescu nominated sector 3 Mayor Liviu Negoiță to form a new government. Due to the fact that the Cabinet structure was identical to, and that most of the ministers where the same as the ones of the first Boc cabinet, and the Croitoru (proposed) Cabinet, this new proposal was nicknamed by the media and analysts The Boc III Cabinet without Boc. This cabinet never received a vote from Parliament, and Negoiță renounced to the mandate days after the run-off of the presidential election, the first Boc cabinet being officially mandated as a caretaker government until a new cabinet would form.