Luca Niculescu announced on Thursday, October 15, 2026, that he had submitted the government programme and the proposed list of ministers to Parliament. The proposed cabinet brings together nominees from the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and independent specialists, with a parliamentary investiture vote expected next week.
In a message published on his Facebook page, Niculescu described the proposed government as an attempt to address Romania’s political crisis and pressing economic and social challenges.
“After months of political crisis, we need a government that can make decisions quickly and respond to economic and social problems that can no longer be postponed,” he said.
According to Niculescu, the proposed ministers will work as a single team, following a common programme, shared objectives and deadlines, regardless of whether they were nominated by the PSD or are independent specialists.
Government’s priorities for the first months
Niculescu outlined several measures that his proposed government intends to prioritise during its first months in office.
These include a budget adjustment to prevent disruptions to hospital operations, medicine supplies and payments to local authorities and companies.
Another key objective is the adoption of Romania’s 2027 state budget by the end of this year.
The proposed programme also includes support for vulnerable people facing energy bills during the winter, measures to revive the economy, support for Romanian businesses and improvements in the collection of public revenue.
Strengthening national defence and security is also among the government’s stated priorities.
PSD to hold 11 of the government’s 17 portfolios
According to the proposed ministerial list, the Social Democratic Party would hold 11 of the 17 ministerial portfolios in the cabinet led by Luca Niculescu.
Ministers nominated by the PSD
- Marian Neacșu – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs;
- Florin Barbu – Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development;
- Alexandru Rogobete – Minister of Health;
- Florin Manole – Minister of Labour;
- Daniel Zamfir – Minister of Economy;
- Radu Marinescu – Minister of Justice;
- Alexandru Stoica – Minister of Development, Public Works and Administration;
- Ștefan Ovidiu Popa – Minister of Transport and Infrastructure;
- Natalia Intotero – Minister of Environment, Water and Forests;
- Mihai Ghigiu – Minister of Investments and European Projects;
- Ștefan Radu Oprea – Minister of National Defence.
The PSD would also have a minister-delegate responsible for pre-university education, Sorin Ionescu, according to the information provided.
Six independent specialists proposed for the cabinet
Alongside the PSD nominees, the proposed government would include six specialists described as technocrats.
They are:
- Alexandru Nazare – Finance, a former member of the National Liberal Party (PNL);
- Dan Neculăescu – Foreign Affairs;
- Sorin Costreie – Education;
- Bogdan Dumitriu – Communications and Artificial Intelligence, as minister-delegate;
- Ioana Ciocan – Culture;
- Dumitru Chisăliță – Energy.
The proposed cabinet would therefore combine political representatives with specialists from different professional backgrounds. Niculescu has argued that, regardless of political affiliation, all members of the government will share responsibility for implementing the programme.
Niculescu seeks parliamentary support
In his Facebook message, Niculescu thanked the PSD for agreeing to participate in government and acknowledged discussions with representatives of the PNL, the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), the parliamentary group representing national minorities and other lawmakers who have announced their support.
The next steps are hearings for the proposed ministers in parliamentary committees, followed by the investiture vote, both expected next week.
Until the parliamentary procedure is completed, the list remains a proposed cabinet, and the ministers’ appointments depend on the completion of the constitutional investiture process.
Full statement by Luca Niculescu
The following is the full English translation of the statement provided, published on his Facebook page on October 15, 2026.
“Today, I submitted the government programme and the list of ministers to Parliament.
The team I am proposing brings together ministers nominated by the Social Democratic Party, which has decided to take responsibility for participating in government, and specialists with no political affiliation. This is a less common arrangement in Romania, but one that responds to the situation we find ourselves in. After months of political crisis, we need a government that can make decisions quickly and respond to economic and social problems that can no longer be postponed.
The ministers have different backgrounds, but they will form a single team, with one programme and one responsibility: to work for Romania. Regardless of whether they were nominated by the PSD or are independent, they will work towards the same objectives, with the same deadlines and under the same rules.
The government’s investiture, like the country’s essential projects, requires the support of several political forces. I would like to thank the PSD representatives for their decision to take responsibility for participating in government and for the constructive dialogue during this period. I would also like to thank representatives of the PNL, UDMR, the parliamentary group representing national minorities and the other lawmakers who have announced their support, each on their own terms. I appreciate the responsibility and openness they have demonstrated.
In the first few months, we will focus on issues that can no longer wait:
– adjusting the budget to prevent disruptions to hospital operations, medicine supplies and payments to local authorities and companies;
– adopting the 2027 budget by the end of the year;
– supporting vulnerable people facing energy bills this winter;
– reviving the economy, supporting Romanian businesses and improving the collection of public revenue;
– strengthening the country’s defence and security.
I said from the beginning that Romania needs bridges, not walls. We have taken some important steps in recent days. The next steps are the hearings for the proposed ministers in parliamentary committees and the investiture vote next week.”
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