Teodor Melescanu replaces Corlatean as Minister of Foreign Affairs

Traian Basescu has validated the proposal and signed the decree for investing Teodor Melescanu as Minister of Foreign Affairs, after Prime Minister Victor Ponta has nominated him to replace Titus Corlateanu. According to a release of the Romanian Presidency, the investiture ceremony will take place today at the Cotroceni Palace starting with 17:30.

Ponta has accepted Titus Corlatean’s resignation announced earlier today and he has named Melescanu to take the lead of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“I have discussed with Mr. Corlatean, too, I have accepted his resignation and have also submitted to President Traian Basescu the proposal that Teodor Melescanu becomes Minister of Foreign Affairs in the very next period and organizes the vote in the Romanian diaspora as per the existing legal provisions and requirements of BEC (the Central Electoral Office) and this way ensuring the fundamental right to vote of every Romanian citizen which must be respected”, stated Ponta during a press statement at the Victoria Palace.

Melescanu engaged in the 2014 presidential race, as independent candidate, after resigning as head of the Romanian Foreign Intelligence Service and obtained a total score of approximately 1 percent in the first round of presidential election. Subsequently, he announced publicly his support for Victor Ponta in the run-off where faces the ACL leader Klaus Iohannis.

Titus Corlatean decided to step down as Minister of Foreign Affairs, declaring that his resignation is meant to protect the image and prestige of the ministry, affected by the scandal generated in the Romanian diaspora and within the country, as thousands of Romanians living abroad had not been able to vote in the first round due to poor organization of polling places. Corlatean unveiled his decision during a press conference this morning, announcing that the Prime Minister had already been informed and maintaining his position with respect to the mentioned events, asserting that the polling places outside Romania were established in accordance with the indication of the Central Electoral Office (BEC), complying with the Romanian legislation.