Romania to propose Victor Negrescu as EU commissioner

The Romanian government has officially nominated Socialist MEP Victor Negrescu for the position of European Commissioner, as announced by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu during a press briefing in Brussels. Ciolacu confirmed that the nomination would be submitted on Monday, August 26, following discussions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Negrescu, currently serving as Vice-President of the European Parliament, is expected to bring his experience in EU budget, digital, and cultural matters to the role. However, the nomination has sparked controversy, as the Romanian government has not proposed a female candidate, despite von der Leyen's request for each member state to submit both a male and female nominee. This has led to criticism from various political factions, including the National Liberal Party (PNL), whose leader, Nicolae Ciucă, accused the Social Democrats of delaying the nomination process. Ciolacu's relationship with President Klaus Iohannis remains strained, further complicating the political landscape. Negrescu, who has a background in journalism and has been an MEP since 2014, expressed his commitment to engaging with younger demographics and supporting investment-focused initiatives within the Commission. He emphasized the importance of equal opportunities and the need for more countries to nominate female candidates for the European Commission. The ongoing situation highlights the challenges of achieving gender balance in EU leadership roles, as the current nominations reflect a significant disparity, with 15 men proposed compared to just six women. The European Commission has refrained from commenting on the lack of female nominees, indicating that the nomination process is still evolving.