Romania's Agriculture Minister-Designate Wants To Give Up Portfolio

Romanian democrat liberal lawmaker Orest Onofrei, designated as agriculture minister in the future Government, said Saturday evening he plans to give up the nomination following new accusations regarding his involvement in a car accident that caused the death of a eight-year-old child.
Onofrei told MEDIAFAX he is honored democrat liberals validated his designation as agriculture minister, but showed displeased with the fact the media reopened a subject regarding his involvement in a fatal car accident for which the court found him not guilty.

Onofrei said he does not want to put Prime Minister Emil Boc and President Traian Basescu in a difficult position.

Onofrei was charged with negligent homicide after being involved in a fatal car accident in 2002, and the court found him not guilty in a final ruling in 2007.

The Democratic Liberal Party might designate democrat liberal Valeriu Tabara as agriculture minister if Prime Minister Emil Boc approves Onofrei's decision to give up the agriculture portfolio, people close to the matter said.