The National Political Bureau of the National Liberal Party (PNL) on Thursday decided to nominate the acting Defence Minister Nicolae Ciuca for the position of Prime Minister at the consultations with President Klaus Iohannis at the Cotroceni Palace.The Liberals also propose a minority government formed with the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR).
Citu: Proving maturity and responsibility, PNL tabled at consultations a proposal for Prime Minister meant to unblock the political crisis
The National Liberal Party’s (PNL) delegation went to consultations with the President with a nominee for Prime Minister – current Defense Minister Nicolae Ciuca, who is vetted to head a minority government formed with the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR), Liberal Chairman and interim Prime Minister Florin Citu announced on Thursday.
“Proving maturity and responsibility, PNL tabled at consultations with the President of Romania a proposal for Prime Minister meant to unblock the political crisis, for a government to be installed as soon as possible and for us to be able to manage the health situation. PNL’s pick for Prime Minister is current Defense Minister Nicolae Ciuca, who is to lead a minority government formed together with UDMR, the partners with whom we have already been managing this situation. We count on the responsibility of the Romanian lawmakers to vote in the government as soon as possible,” Citu said after consultations with the head of the state at the Cotroceni Palace.
PSD’s Ciolacu: Romanians’ urgency is to discuss with president Iohannis about pandemic problem
Romanians’ urgency is to discuss with president Klaus Iohannis about the pandemic problem, the chairman of PSD (Social Democratic Party) Marcel Ciolacu, declared on Thursday, before the meeting between the social-democrats and the head of state.
The representatives of PSD are taking part in consultations at Cotroceni Palace, on Thursday, for the nomination of a new candidate for Prime Minister.
“Professor Rafila and professor Cercel are also part of the delegation and I believe that the Romanians’ urgency is to discuss with the president about the pandemic problem,” Ciolacu said at PSD’s central headquarters.
Asked if he has given up on the scenario of early elections, Ciolacu said: “No. And we all knew that early elections could not have been held at this moment, given the pandemic and the Constitution, but we continue to believe that after the failure of the right-wing governing the best option is returning to the Romanian people.”
The PSD chairman also said that there were no decisions made regarding a Government led by Nicolae Ciuca, the proposed candidate from the liberals.
“My opinion, and I am keeping it, is that at this moment Romania needs a stable Government, with a wide parliamentary support,” Ciolacu said.
SocDem leader: I maintain my opinion that Romania is not entering an area of stability with a minority Government
The chairman of PSD (Social Democratic Party) Marcel Ciolacu reiterated on Thursday that Romania is not entering an area of stability with a minority Government.
“I maintain my opinion that Romania is not entering an area of stability with a minority Government. Especially with what we have to deal with at this moment. You know that in one day Romania had more (Covid-19, ed. n.) casualties than the entire European Union,” Ciolacu said before the reunion of PSD’s National Standing Bureau.
He specified that PSD will “come out with a clear statement” after this meeting and after consulting with president Klaus Iohannis at Cotroceni Palace
USR’s Ciolos: We can’t support minority government, there is possibility to build a majority around a reform programme
The chairman of the Save Romania Union (USR), Dacian Ciolos, stated on Thursday that the MPs of these political formation cannot support a minority government, as long as there is the possibility to build a majority “around a reform programme.”
“We are able to start discussions immediately, around a governing programme, with clear objectives, in order to pull the country from the pandemic crisis, from the energy crisis and in order to start implementing the PNRR as quickly as possible. But this implies honesty and clarity from the other partners, if they desire to go in this direction or no. We await the consultations with the President to see what the proposals of the other parties are and what the decision of the President is. USR is ready to sit and discuss with solutions on the table,” said Ciolos before attending the consultations with President Iohannis in view of designating a new Prime Minister.
Asked if USR will vote in Parliament a minority government, Ciolos said: “From our point of view, there is need for a government with full powers, with majority in Parliament, able to make the important decisions in the coming period. A minority government cannot do this.”
He explained that a minority government, if it passes Parliament, “means it has the votes to pass, but not to make decisions with a majority in Parliament.”
“They are two different things. It’s one thing to have an investiture vote and it’s another to apply your governing programme. We cannot support a minority government as long as there is the possibility to build a majority around a reform programme,” added Ciolos.
The USR chair confirmed that he will request the President restore the coalition between the National Liberal Party (PNL), USR, and the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR).
Compiled from Agerpres
