The changes that occurred at government level are raising questions as to the seriousness of the reshuffle and as to the intention of the head of government, Emil Boc, to choose a strong team, able to face the long and difficult period ahead.

Public pressure on the Government was huge and the changes were imminent, especially since they had been announced a long while back. But then why was former Finance Minister Sebastian Vlădescu so surprised by his being replaced? What happened behind closed doors and what is the likely lifespan of this new government?

Victor Ponta, leader of opposition party PSD (Social Democratic Party) is no friend of Sebastian Vlădescu's and says it openly. But he notes, "It is nonsensical to change the finance minister one month before putting together the state budget and in the midst of negotiations with the IMF and the European Commission. I am not a big fan of Mr Vlădescu, but he is a good professional and was a finance minister who was working on something at the moment."

The questions about this new government were raised by the fact that, when you change something politically - and PDL (Democratic Liberal Party) openly admits to needing to improve its image, you come up with big names.

"I am concerned because the finance minister (the new finance minister Gheorghe Ialomiţianu i.e.) is an unknown. (...) You don't conduct experiments in times of crisis," economic analyst Aurelian Dochia told Agence France Presse.

The changes that occurred at government level are raising questions as to the seriousness of the reshuffle and as to the intention of the head of government, Emil Boc, to choose a strong team, able to face the long and difficult period ahead.

Public pressure on the Government was huge and the changes were imminent, especially since they had been announced a long while back. But then