Reactions after Government is ousted

Romanian parliamentary parties are trying to find solutions to the political crisis after the government was ousted by no-confidence vote.

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Roxana Vasile, 06.10.2021, 14:00

Three parties supported Tuesday’s parliamentary vote of no confidence against the government made up of the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, headed by the Liberal leader Florin Citu. The result of the vote was more than relevant: out of 318 MPs present in Parliament, 281 were in favor of the motion. MPs representing parties in the opposition, such as the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) as well as those of the Save Romania Union (USR), that has been part of the coalition government until September, voted against Citu’s cabinet. No wonder that Florin Citu’s speech in Parliament was mainly directed against the latter. Florin Citu: ʺAfter having plotted to oust the Government, USR now wants to be again part of the ruling coalition but with a softer leader, someone picked by themselves, who looks the other way when instead of choosing the right path they choose the left. ʺ

The USR vice president, Dan Barna, was quick to respond to Citu’s accusations: ʺYou could have been a reformist PM, but instead you preferred to be the brakeman of the governing programme that was supposed to get us out of the crisis. ʺ

In his turn, PSD leader, Marcel Ciolacu, accused the Citu Government that in 9 months in office he did not propose concrete measures for health, economy or higher living standards: ʺOur problem and Romanians’ problem is that you destroyed this country in your absurd fight for power.ʺ

On the other hand, the Liberals saw the ousting of the Citu Government as an irresponsible act, in the context of the pandemic and of the very high energy and gas bills. The Government out, each political party in Parliament makes its stand public and follows its own agenda. These agendas, however, are so divergent that putting together a coalition able to get the support it needs to be sworn in, is highly unlikely. PSD and AUR want a technocratic government until early elections are called. USR is willing to come to power again, but not with Florin Citu as PM. In their turn, the Liberals themselves are divided over the matter. Some of them say the current Liberal leader should be nominated again as PM, while others support the former party leader, Ludovic Orban.

It is the head of state, Klaus Iohannis, that will have the last say on the matter. He gave the parties unusually much time to negotiate. Klaus Iohannis: ʺTo give political parties time to meet, find mature solutions and present them during the consultations, I will only summon political parties to consultations next week.ʺ

The PM nominated by President Iohannis will have 10 days to present Parliament with a team and a governing programme, with a view to getting the confidence vote. In the meantime, the Romanian political crisis grabs headlines in international media, from the US to India. (EE)