The resignation is related to a conflict between the dancers and the management of the National Opera, with the prime minister objecting to the way the Ministry of Culture has dealt with this conflict.

However, in an open letter Vlad Alexandrescu says that his resignation is due to “the most retrograde forces, opposing change”, which became so virulent in public that they were endangering the reform he started.

“In a few days I was about to sign in Cannes a new convention between the Romanian Film Center and the French CNC. The grants contest will have new regulations and the cinema theatres will benefit from the European Cities programme which will re-launch the concept of art house cinema”, Alexandrescu also said, naming some of the moves he made in film industry.

Together with his cinema experts, Alexandrescu was planning major changes in Romanian cinema starting with the Romanian Film Center, old cinemas, RADEF RomâniaFilm (the former Communist network), Film Archives and film education in schools.

Prime Minister Cioloș stepped into a meeting in favor of Alexandrescu on 27 April 2016 and promised that the cultural reforms will go forward.

Alexandrescu was approved as the Minister of Culture on 17 November 2015. The Romanian government was later replaced after the resignation of the former Prime Minister Victor Ponta and the appointment of a new Prime Minister.

UPDATE: Vlad Alexandrescu announced on 29 April 2016 that after discussions with the Prime Minister he decided not to file his resignation before Easter (1-2 May 2016).