General Nicolae Ciuca, a soldier in charge of governing a country ravaged by the Covid-19

Romania has found the strong man who promises to bring order to a country ravaged by Covid-19. Monday, November 22, General Nicolae Ciuca, 54, was appointed to head a new government supposed to resolve the political and health crises that have rocked Romania for two months. At the beginning of November, a first attempt to install the ex-soldier in business ended in failure, for lack of agreement between the different parties.

The military profile of this man on the ground, who recently entered politics, is likely to reassure part of the population in Romania, where the army is one of the most respected institutions. But his appointment is not unanimous in the political ranks. Member of the National Liberal Party (PNL), Minister of Defense since 2019, he has obtained his stripes in the major theaters of war over the past twenty years. Nicknamed “the General of the Desert”, he led the “Red Scorpions” battalion that accompanied the US Army during “Enduring Freedom” operations in Afghanistan in 2002-2003. A darling of the US Army, he also stood out in 2004 during the battle of Nassiriya, in Iraq.

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Its mission will be to appease the political crisis which has been grafted onto a virulent health crisis. “We have worked to create a strong coalition and a government capable of ensuring the stability of Romania, he said at a press conference after his appointment. Romanians are waiting for solutions to fight the pandemic and the energy crisis. We must also implement the European recovery plan. “ The European Commission has promised Romania aid amounting to 29 billion euros. But for lack of a government supported by the Parliament, the European jackpot could not be granted to it.

Strong majority in Parliament

Romanians are exasperated by the political crisis that has divided the National Liberal Party, whose government fell on October 5 following a motion of censure tabled by the social democratic opposition. Internal quarrels between former party president Ludovic Orban and outgoing Prime Minister Florin Citu have fractured the right. Its ally, the Union to Save Romania (USR), led by the former leader of the Renew group in the European Parliament, Dacian Ciolos, has abandoned the alliance with the liberals and contributed to the fall of the government.

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These political maneuvers benefited the opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD), which ended up teaming up with the dissenting liberal wing, led by Mr Citu, to form a new coalition. the November 25, the future government resulting from this marriage of circumstance between former adversaries will be submitted to the vote of Parliament, where it has a comfortable majority of 65% of the seats. “I have seen that a solid majority has been created in Parliament, Liberal President Klaus Iohannis said on Monday. This majority proposed a prime minister whom I accepted. “

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