Vasile Tofan travels to Cambodia to back Cioloș’s Francophonie bid
Prime Minister Vasile Tofan will attend the Summit of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) this weekend in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to support the candidacy of former Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș for the position of Secretary General of the organization.
Government spokesperson Dumitru Ciorici made the announcement.
"Given the high stakes and the prospects for Dacian Cioloș’s candidacy to lead the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), Prime Minister Vasile Tofan has decided to attend the OIF Summit in Phnom Penh to support Romania’s bid," stated Ciorici.
The election of the Secretary General takes place during the summit, and heads of state and government lead the negotiations—as well as the process of identifying a candidate acceptable to the member states—the government spokesperson explained.
"This decision also takes into account the specific nature of the organization: the election occurs during the Summit, where negotiations and the building of consensus are driven, first and foremost, by heads of state and government. Proficiency in the French language is essential for these direct consultations," Ciorici noted.
Previously, authorities in Chișinău announced that the Republic of Moldova would support Dacian Cioloș’s candidacy, emphasizing that Romania is the country’s strategic partner and closest friend. According to the statement, electing the former Romanian Prime Minister could help strengthen economic ties, attract investment, and open new markets for Moldovan exporters.
The Francophonie Summit will take place November 15–16 in Phnom Penh. Confirmed attendees include French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Dacian Cioloș served as Prime Minister of Romania from 2015 to 2017 and as European Commissioner for Agriculture. He is running for Secretary General of the OIF, currently held by Louise Mushikiwabo of Rwanda.
