The ministry that no one wants. Ilie Bolojan has not yet found a Minister of Education, more than a month after the resignation of Daniel David

In the last two meetings of the National Political Bureau of the PNL there was no discussion about the name of the person who must receive the party's support to occupy the position of Minister of Education, participants in the meetings told HotNews. Although two names were considered from the beginning, further discussions did not lead to a consensus. Ilie Bolojan initially said that he would make the proposal for Minister of Education during January, which has become improbable, political sources tell HotNews.

After the resignation of Daniel David, on December 22, HotNews wrote that Ilie Bolojan is considering Marilen Pirtea (PNL deputy and rector of the Western University of Timișoara) or Luciana Antonci (advisor to the prime minister and former school inspector).

During January, Ilie Bolojan had discussions with the two, according to HotNews sources, but no decision was reached.

In the most recent meeting of the National Political Bureau of the PNL, on Monday, which took place at Vila Lac, the subject was not discussed at all, say party sources. Even at the previous meeting, on January 19, the PNL leaders did not talk about who should occupy the position in the Government that belongs to the PNL.

“The issue is under the prime minister's attention”

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan declared on January 13, on TVR, that the plan is that “by the end of this month we will have a new minister who can work, together with the other colleagues, on the budget”.

“We are analyzing the options we have and, as I said, after a decision that the PNL, which supports this portfolio, will take, we will come up with a proposal in January”, Ilie Bolojan had previously explained on January 3, at Digi24.

On Wednesday, HotNews asked the spokesperson of the Government, Ioana Dogioiu, whether Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan will make the proposal for Minister of Education by the end of this week or whether the decision will be made in February. She said she did not have any additional information on the subject. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan is, until tomorrow, on an official visit to Germany.

Also asked if Ilie Bolojan had discussions during this period with Marilen Pirtea, Luciana Antoci or other possible candidates for the position of Minister of Education, the spokeswoman for the Government said that “I do not have this concrete information, but the matter is definitely in the prime minister's attention”.

The decision can be postponed for another month

“The decision may be postponed until we establish the budget. We have not discussed,” PNL sources told HotNews on Wednesday.

The budget for 2026 will be adopted, in the most optimistic scenario, in the second part of February. Before the budget, the plan of the Government and the governing coalition is to adopt the draft laws related to the reform of the administration and the project that has the economic recovery in the foreground – projects that have caused new tensions in the coalition.

It is not clear, therefore, when the discussion will be about who can take over the Ministry of Education.

Bolojan's interim appointment at Education expires on February 28

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan took over the position of interim Minister of Education on January 14, more than 20 days after Daniel David officially announced his resignation. Bolojan can also temporarily hold the position of Minister of Education for a maximum of 45 days, according to the law. This term expires, in this case, on February 28.

However, if the 45 term is exceeded, there are no penalties. In the past, Bolojan held the position of deputy prime minister vacated by Dragoș Anastasiu for more than 45 days.