The new Orban government, installed

Romania has a new Liberal Government headed by Ludovic Orban.

Roxana Vasile, 16.03.2020, 13:55

In Bucharest, the coronavirus pandemic has changed political strategies at the top level and has generated the most bizzare situations. After having won the European and presidential elections in 2019, the head of state, Klaus Iohannis and the National Liberal Party that supports him, were determined to call early legislative elections this summer, likely to be held at the same time with the local elections. The ousting, in October 2019, of the Social Democratic government though a no-confidence vote, should have been followed, in keeping with the Liberal strategy, by an attempt to win a confortable majority in Parliament, aimed at helping them put into practice their governing programme.

Unsatisfied with the activity of the Liberal government, the Social Democrats, who had been in the opposition since November, tabled a censure motion that was passed by Parliament. With the Liberal government and its leader dismissed, the head of state and the Liberals, considered the possibility of calling early parliamentary elections. Consequently, President Iohannis nominated once more Ludovic Orban to form a new government. The vote in parliament was not held due to the lack of quorum.

Moreover, Ludovic Orban resigned his position as Prime Minister designate. The head of state then designated Liberal Florin Citu to form the government. Last Thursday Florin Citu decided, to the surprise of many, to also resign his position as PM designate, only half an hour ahead of the almost sure endorsement of his government.

In the meantime, the growing number of infections with cotonavirus had become increasingly worrying and Romania did not have a government with full powers able to take the necessary measures to handle the crisis. Against this background, President Iohannis announced on Friday, following a video conference with the political parties, that he nominated Ludovic Orban again, as PM. We must focus 100% on fighting the epidemic, Iohannis said, adding that he had the promise of the political parties not to block the installemnt of the new government.

This new government was endorsed by Parliament on Saturday, with 286 votes in favor, 23 against and 1 abstention. Ironically enough, the votes of the Social Democrats, who had ousted the first governmet led by Orban, were vital for the new government to be endorsed, as a number of Liberal MPs were self-isolated afer getting in contact with one of their colleagues, senator Vergil Chitac, infected with coronavirus. The press did not have access to the vote, which was held in a desinfected room, with the MPs wearing masks and gloves. On Saturday evening PM Ludovic Orban, came out of self-isolation to be sworn in before president Klaus Iohannis. The PM was wearing a mask and he kept a 5-m safety distance to the head of state. With the pandemic a top priority, parliamentary elections will most likely be held in autumn, when they were innitially scheduled. (Translated by Elena Enache)