The caretaker Justice Minister Oleg Efrim says he will refuse a portfolio in the next Government even if he is offered one, IPN reports.

Speaking in an interview with ProTV, Efrim said he preferred to return to his practice as a private lawyer and to the law school where he taught before his appointment.

“I believe that five years of serving within the Ministry of Justice, including four as Minister, were enough for me to be able to promote what I had to do”, said Oleg Efrim. He added that his decision was not due to any public or private disagreements with Prime Minister Iurie Leanca, which he said he never had anyway, and wasn't related to the Liberal-Democratic Party's activity, which he represented, and constantly promoted, as Minister.

Moreover, Efrim said he would keep his Lib-Dem membership. “I've talked about my decision to discontinue as Minister with the party leadership, and while there were some attempts of dissuasion, I think no one will insist seeing that my mind is already made up”.

In Efrim's opinion, his successor should carry on with the Justice Reform Strategy until 2016. “My recommendation, and in some way my regret for not doing it myself, is for (the successor) to adopt a bold communication approach in promoting (his or her) work”, said Oleg Efrim, adding that he regretted his unsuccessful attempt at reforming the prosecution service. “I assume my failures”.

Oleg Efrim was appointed Minister of Justice in 2011 after serving as Deputy Minister for one year.