Following initial discussions with representatives of the parliamentary parties in Bucharest, the fourth designated prime minister, Luca Niculescu, is confident he will secure the 233 votes needed to invest a government. He states that he found common ground during Thursday’s meetings with the PSD, PNL, and UDMR, as all the parties agree on honoring the fiscal-budgetary commitments Romania has undertaken. Indeed, this is one of the immediate objectives mentioned by Luca Niculescu, alongside the budget rectification and the preparation of next year’s budget.<\/p>\n
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The prime minister designate also states that there is a need for better state budget revenue collection, the protection of the population against rising energy prices, and the completion of the OECD accession process: “My goal is to create a functional, competent government that has a majority, one that ensures not only its passage through Parliament but also its smooth operation afterwards.”<\/p>\n
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However, disagreements between the parties persist. The PSD rejects the idea of \u200b\u200ba technocratic government and states that a Niculescu-led government would receive Social Democratic support, provided there is a shift in economic vision and a major macroeconomic reconfiguration. PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu stated: “We want a committed majority. We are not interested in positions. I call upon the PNL and UDMR, in particular, to demonstrate political maturity and to join in building a transparent majority.”<\/p>\n
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On the other hand, the Liberal leader, the current interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, states that the PNL will move into opposition if the Social Democrats join the cabinet, though he noted that his party is open to granting a vote of investiture: \u201cThe PNL is open to voting this government into office and acting to address urgent budgetary matters, ensuring the proper functioning of state services through a budget revision and taking measures to curb spending so that we stay within our targets.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The UDMR advocates for restoring the former PSD-PNL coalition as a solution to secure a majority and announces its willingness to support a government, even without being part of it, provided that AUR and SOS Romania are excluded. George Simion, the leader of the nationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), who has so far been excluded from government formation talks held by all designated prime ministers, claims in a video message that the future executive is already being negotiated behind the scenes; he asserts that the upcoming cabinet will effectively be controlled by the PSD. The prime minister designate announced that consultations with political parties will continue next week, starting Monday with the USR and the national minorities group, as well as with other parliamentary factions. (LS)<\/p>\n
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