Romania’s education minister has resigned one day short of a year in the post after refusing to make spending cuts in education and research.
Daniel David, the former rector of the University of Cluj and a respected psychology professor confirmed that Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan had accepted his resignation.
He is likely to be replaced by the rector of the West University of Timisoara, Marilen Pirtea. David, 53, an almost reluctant minister who is not a member of any political party, said he did not want disrupt government activity with his departure which he discussed with the prime minister.
“It was a unilateral decision.We wanted it to be an amicable departure,” Daniel David said, thanking Bolojan and President Nicusor Dan for their support. David, who considers himself an expert rather than a politician was supported by the National Liberal Party for the post.
Sources said that, most likely, the position will be taken over by Marilen Pirtea, rector of the West University of Timisoara.
Pirtea has been rector there since 2012 and is also honorary advisor to Bolojan on education and research, as well as president of the “Universitaria” Consortium.
David, who was appointed minister in 2023 has repeatedly said he is opposed to cuts to education and research. Bolojan has made sweeping cuts in recent months as part of austerity measures designed to reduce the budget deficit which was the highest in the EU last year.
Rumors surfaced that he was thinking of quitting on Sunday evening when he confirmed that the issue was “something I am thinking about these days”.
He said he did not want to carve out a political career and believed that he had made his contribution and had thought of resigning several times.
Davis is also the chairman and executive director of The International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health
He said the next minister should work on the budget for next year.
