Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, on Monday evening, during the first meeting of the new Cabinet, said Romania has a „functional” government and that one of the first „positive effects” of the vote in Parliament is that the foreign interest rates at which the country borrows have already begun to decrease.

He mentioned that the Executive has a „difficult mandate,” but voiced confidence that all members of the government are people „with great experience and solid professional expertise.”

„I am pleased that, at the end of this very long day, Romania has a functional government. It is an essential signal of stability that we are sending to the Romanian private sector and foreign investors. We have already seen the first positive effects of today’s vote in Parliament. The foreign interest rates at which Romania borrows have already begun to decrease, and I am firmly convinced that in the following days, this decrease will continue. This government has a difficult mandate, but I have confidence in all the members of this team because they are people with great experience and solid professional expertise. We know what we have to do and, especially, we know which mistakes we must not repeat. It is extremely important that, with the installation of the new government, we close any space for instability, after a month marked by much tension. Now, Romanians deserve to have a peaceful winter holiday, and that is why I wish all citizens of the country a Merry Christmas with their loved ones,” said Marcel Ciolacu.

The members of the government led by Marcel Ciolacu arrived on Monday evening at the Victoria Governmental Palace for the first meeting of the Executive.

The Ciolacu Cabinet was sworn in earlier in a ceremony held at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.

The joint session of Parliament gave a vote of confidence to the government led by Marcel Ciolacu. There were 240 votes in favour and 143 votes against.

AGERPRES