New ministers took oath of office before President Traian Basescu

The new ministers of Ponta's Cabinet took the oath in front of President Traian Basescu during the investiture ceremony held eventually at the Cotroceni Palace on December 17, 2014, as at first it was scheduled on the evening of the day before.

On December 16, Traian Basescu signed the decree on the appointment of the new members of the Romanian Government.

Eight new ministers have been invested during the said ceremony: Andrei Gerea (Minister of Energy and SMEs), Mihai Tudose (Minister of Economy), Sorin Grindeanu (Minister for Information Society), Sorin Cimpeanu (Minister of Education), Ionut Vulpescu (Minister of Culture), Gratiela Gavrilescu (Minister of Environment and Climate Change), Angel Tilvar (Minister Delegate for Romanians Abroad) and Liviu Marian Pop (Minister Delegate for Social Dialogue), along with other three who have switched the portfolios held in the old configuration: Liviu Dragnea (lost the Deputy Prime Minister position, Minister of Regional Development ), Daniel Constantin (lost the Deputy Prime Minister position, Minister of Agriculture) and Darius Valcov (invested as Ministry of Public Finance, formerly Minister Delegate for Budget).

Monday, December 15, 2014, the members of the Executive nominated by Prime Minister Victor Ponta received the vote of confidence from Romania’s Parliament which passed the new Cabinet supported by the PSD-UNPR-PC alliance and PLR by 377 votes to 134, with 12 votes annulled.

Now, the Government has the following structure: 

Liviu Dragnea – Minister of Regional Development;

Gabriel Oprea – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs;

Daniel Constantin – Minister of Agriculture;

Andrei Gerea – Minister of Energy and SMEs;

Ionut Vulpescu – Minister of Culture;

Bogdan Aurescu – Minister of Foreign Affairs;

Mircea Dusa – Minister of Defence;

Robert Cazanciuc – Minister of Justice;

Gratiela Gavrilescu – Minister of Environment and Climate Change;

Mihai Tudose – Minister of Economy;

Darius Valcov – Minister of Public Finance;

Nicolae Banicioiu – Minister of Health;

Sorin Cimpeanu – Minister of Education;

Gabriela Szabo – Minister of Youth and Sports;

Rovana Plumb – Minister of Labour and Family;

Eugen Teodorovici – Minister of European Funds;

Sorin Grindeanu – Minister for Information Society;

Ioan Rus – Minister of Transport;

Besides these 18 ministers, there are three more ministers delegates, subordinated to some of the main ministries:

Eugen Nicolicea – Minister Delegate for the Relations with the Parliament (the Ministry of Justice);

Liviu Pop – Minister Delegate for Social Dialogue (the Ministry of Justice);

Angel Tilvar – Minister Delegate for Romanians Abroad (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs);