Romania changes EU commissioner pick, puts forward a woman

Romania has nominated MEP Roxana Mînzatu as its next European commissioner, after originally putting forward a man for the role.
Romanian media reported that Mînzatu, a Socialist, will be the country’s official pick, with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu saying in a statement that Mînzatu spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday.
The Romanian candidate was expected to be Victor Negrescu, who last month became a vice president of the European Parliament and is the head of the Romanian Socialist delegation in the Parliament.
“I understood Ursula von der Leyen requested more women candidates for commissioner so my name was never put forward. I accept this decision as I have always supported gender rights, which in my understanding was the only argument not to put my name forward. I hope other countries and political groups will make the same effort,” Negrescu told POLITICO. “I was one of the youngest potential candidates so I hope nevertheless we will still have young commissioners” added Negrescu, who is 39.
Von der Leyen has been putting pressure on smaller countries to switch out their male candidates for women because of a lack of female nominees. With Romania’s switch, there are eight women nominees plus von der Leyen herself. One of those female picks is from Bulgaria, which is the only country to nominate a man and a woman.
The Times of Malta reported last week that von der Leyen wanted Maltese PM Robert Abela to replace his current male nominee, Glenn Micallef, with a suitable woman.