Bucharest, 5 November 1997 (RFE/RL) - Romania's President Emil Constantinescu and Prime Minister Victor Ciorbea and other leaders of the governing coalition have decided to make Cabinet changes this month. Our Bucharest correspondent reports the government reshuffle was decided at a meeting at the Presidential Palace last night.
An acceleration of the economic reform process was also reported agreed at last night's meeting.
A Presidential press release today announces that institutions involved in the privatization process will have to be restructured by reducing their number and the bureaucratic staff and also by simplifying their work procedures.
The Chairman of Romania's upper house of Parliament, Petre Roman -- leader of the junior coalition partner, the Democratic Party -- today suggested all privatization procedures be centralized in one ministry. Roman, who was among those attending last night's meeting, also said the total number of government ministries will be reduced in the reshuffle.
Constantinescu invited all Parliamentary faction leaders to a meeting next week for consultations on Romania's problems in the political, economic and social fields. A meeting of the President with the main trade unions is scheduled the following day.
The center-right coalition has been criticized by members and opposition leaders alike for the slow pace of implementing economic reform.