No-confidence motion against Romania’s government

Romania's Parliament is voting on a no-confidence motion tabled by the Social Democratic Party

Ştefan Stoica, 05.10.2021, 13:50

The Liberal Florin Cîţu’s cabinet is today facing its most important
political test to date-a vote on a no-confidence motion tabled against it by
the Social Democrats in opposition. The document, entitled STOP to poverty, price
rises and convicted criminals, argues that Romania’s only way out of the
on-going political, economic and social crisis is for the Cîțu government
to step down.

The Social Democrats criticise the government for Romanians’ declining
living standards, for the lack of measures to counter the rise in energy prices
and the depreciation of the national currency, and for the alarming increase of
the public debt. The list goes on with the poor absorption of EU funds, the
inadequate programmes to support small and medium businesses, and the
disinterest in farmers’ difficulties.

Also, according to the Social Democrats, the government made up of the
National Liberal Party, USR PLUS and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians
in Romania did not fight against the COVID pandemic, but rather only managed to
hinder the fight against chronic diseases.

The opposition does not fail to mention PM Florin Cîţu’s problems with
the law, during his student years in the US, when he was caught driving under
the influence. The story came to light recently, and it probably would have
been overlooked had it not been for the problems within the ruling coalition.

The motion is not by no means lenient as far as USR is concerned,
although the Cîţu government became a minority government precisely because USR
left the coalition. Although they are criticised in the motion as well, USR announced
they would support the motion, so as to make sure PM Florin Cîţu, whom they see
as responsible for breaking up the ruling coalition, is removed.

In fact, USR were the first to table a motion of censure against the
Liberal government. This motion, also backed by the nationalist party AUR, got
stuck at the Constitutional Court, and will become redundant if the Social
Democrats’ motion passes.

The government stands little chances to survive the motion. Arithmetic shows
that the Social Democrats, USR and AUR have 280 votes in Parliament, and the
motion only needs 234 votes to pass. The cabinet only relies on the
163 votes of the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic
Hungarians, whereas the parliamentary groups representing other ethnic
minorities will not take part in the vote.

Florin Cîţu accused what he called the new
majority made up of the Social Democratic Party, USR and AUR, of being
irresponsible, and announced that the Liberal MPs will take part in the
debates, but will not vote. (tr. A.M.
Popescu)