EconMin Ivan says functioning gov't could be established by next week

Economy Minister Bogdan Ivan said on Wednesday that he wants an "agreement" to be reached over the formation of the future government, adding that there could be a functioning executive by next week.

Asked what he thinks about the possibility of the Ministry of Economy returning to the Save Romania Union (USR), he replied that decisions are taken inside the ruling coalition following "very complex" negotiations, with "many" variables.

"What I want at the moment is for a governmental agreement to be reached, because we have been waiting for four weeks, during which people are waiting for solutions from the current governing coalition. And I am convinced that the moment these things are set up, we will have a functioning government next week," Ivan told the media at a news briefing at the Government House.

Asked if he intends to announce in the internal forums of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) his candidacy for a ministerial position, he replied that for now he is focusing on aspects related to his portfolio.

"Ministries do not belong to individuals, no matter what they call us. They do not belong to the parties either. They belong to the Romanian government. Following negotiations and a political algorithm, depending on the weight that each party has, a party can claim certain ministries, depending on the importance that each of them has," Ivan said.

He added that the checks of the Control Body at the Praid salt mine will end in a week.

"The report of the Control Body will be ready in one week, at the latest, from data I have. The moment I get to have the final report, I will not delay for a second taking the necessary decisions," he said.