Political Unrest in Bucharest

Romania has seen an ordinary Parliament session, the first after the breakup of the majority ruling coalition PSD-ALDE

Ştefan Stoica, 03.09.2019, 14:16

The first ordinary Parliament
session in Bucharest has acknowledged ALDE leader, Calin Popescu Tariceanu’s
stepping down from the position of Senate President. The move was made public
by the Social Democrats’ former partner the ruling coalition concurrently with its
decision to break up with the government coalition. Tariceanu has described himself
as a fair, honest and impartial Senate president, adding that he could no
longer continue with this job.

Calin Popescu Tariceanu: I
was appointed for this job by a political alliance and it seems only fair to
step down since the respective alliance no longer exists.

Surprisingly, ALDE could still head
the Senate through its vice-president, Teodor Melescanu, who has been offered
this job by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) itself. Social Democratic leader
Viorica Dancila has explained the decision.

Viorica Dancila: The
position belonged to ALDE and we wanted to show that we are fair until the end.
I talked with my colleagues at the latest meeting we had with the president of
the Chamber of Deputies and also had the Senate voting.

Teodor Melescanu believes his
appointment as Senate president would be beneficial to ALDE.

Teodor Melescanu: This
position is a guarantee of the fact that ALDE will not be subjected to
pressures of any kind, on the contrary it could also offer my colleagues future
prospects.

Everything comes at a price in Romanian
politics though everything is negotiable. It seems obvious though that ALDE’s silence
could be obtained in exchange for the political support offered to a minority
PSD govern currently facing the threat of reshuffle through a no confidence
vote. PNL, the main opposition party, made up of National Liberals, has
announced its intention to negotiate with all the parties, except for the PSD,
in order to increase the chances for the no confidence vote to pass. Here is PNL
president Ludovic Orban with more on the issue.

Ludovic Orban: Once the
Parliamentary session has started we are going to kick off talks with all
political parties represented in the Romanian Parliament, of course with the
exception of the PSD groups. As far as we are concerned, the text of the no
confidence vote drawn up by the National Liberal Party will be subjected to
negotiations with all Parliament groups. There are six other Parliament groups that
should associate with the National Liberal Party in this move to bring down the
government.

Also in opposition, the USR-PLUS Alliance
is still calling for snap election as a prerequisite for joining a new
Executive. According to its leader, Dan Barna, this is the only way to build up
a Parliament majority to promote the reforms Romania needs. It’s partner, the
leader of PLUS Dacian Ciolos, stands for a transition government until the snap
election.

However, the very complex
Parliament equation cannot exclude Pro Romania, a splinter group from the PSD
led by the country’s former Prime Minister Victor Ponta, PMP, UDMR or the
deputies of national minorities. The latter have traditionally been voting the
government.

(translated by bill)