Romania to propose MEP Victor Negrescu as European Commissioner

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 Ciolacu announced on Thursday.

"As far as the Commissioner is concerned, this is not the first time I say this: we went with a name. He is the current Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mr Victor Negrescu," Ciolacu said from Brussels after a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday (22 August).

The nomination of the 39-year-old Romanian MEP is expected to officially take place on Monday (26 August).

So far, there are no signs that the Romanian government is thinking of co-nominating a female commissioner, which only adds to the affront to von der Leyen, who had asked that each country submit two names: one man and one woman.

So far, governments have proposed a total of 16 men and six women, including von der Leyen herself.

Asked if he had discussed the proposal with President Klaus Iohannis, Prime Minister Ciolacu appeared to deny this, saying: "I have had discussions with the president several times in the past".

Ciolacu and Iohannis have been at odds since 2019 when Ciolacu took over the leadership of the Social Democratic Party.

More recently, with voices from the National Liberal Party (PNL, EPP) suggesting that Iohannis should support Nicolae Ciucă - the PNL leader - for Romania's presidency, it seems that neither Iohannis nor Ciolacu misses an opportunity to attack the other.

Ciolacu also mentioned that a discussion would have to take place within the governing coalition, which includes the PNL, as PNL leader Nicolae Ciucă accused the Social Democrats of delaying the nomination of a commissioner.

"Romania is one of the countries that has not yet made its proposal for European Commissioner. As the title suggests, the European Commissioner represents Romania – not the PSD, which seems to understand this less and less," Ciucă said.

Negrescu was also proposed to take on the European Commissioner role by former PSD Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă in 2019, but President Klaus Iohannis did not accept the nomination as Dăncilă's government had fallen following a vote of no confidence.

[Edited by Daniel Eck]