The Minister of Economy, Radu Miruta is taking over the interim position at the Ministry of National Defense, after the decree appointing him to this position was published in the Official Gazette of Romania on Friday evening.

The decree noting the resignation of Ionut Mosteanu, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense, was also published in the Official Gazette, thus establishing the termination of his position as a member of the Government.

President Nicusor Dan signed on Friday the decree noting the resignation of the Minister of Defense, Ionut Mosteanu, and the decree appointing Economy Minister Radu Miruta as acting Defense Minister.

Ionut Mosteanu submitted his resignation from office on Friday.

'Today I submitted my resignation from the position of Minister of National Defense. I discussed with the President, the Prime Minister, the Party President, and some of my colleagues from the USR and I thank them for their support and trust. I am making this gesture with responsibility and respect for the Romanian Army. Romania and Europe are under Russia's assault. Our national security must be defended at all costs. I do not want the discussions about my training and the mistakes I made many years ago to distract those who are now leading the country from the difficult mission,' Mosteanu wrote on his Facebook account.

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan later said that he had taken note of Ionut Mosteanu's resignation and that he was proposing the Minister of Economy, Radu Miruta as acting Defense Minister.

'I have taken note of the resignation of Mr. Ionut Mosteanu from the position of Minister of National Defense and Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Romania. I thank him for the work done in exercising his mandate. I will propose to the President of Romania that the interim position be filled by Mr. Radu Miruta, Minister of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism', announced the Prime Minister. AGERPRES(RO - writing by: Andreea Rotaru; EN - writing by: Bogdan Gabaroi)