RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Social Democrats versus Social Democrats

In an unprecedented situation in 27 years of post-communist democracy, the coalition in power in Romania made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania tabled a motion of no confidence in their own Government

Social Democrats versus Social Democrats
Social Democrats versus Social Democrats

, 19.06.2017, 14:09

The 222 MPs who signed the no-confidence motion accuse PM Sorin Grindeanu on clinging to power. They claim the PM lost his legitimacy, after the ruling coalition, unhappy with the delays in implementing the governing programme, withdrew its political support, most ministers resigned and the Social Democrats expelled him from the party.



The motion will be discussed and voted on this Wednesday, and at least 233 votes are required in order for it to pass. The fluctuating arithmetic of the two sides deepens the suspense and makes the fate of the Cabinet unknown until the very last moment.



Although they make no secret of their wish to see the Government dismissed, the right-wing Opposition, comprising the National Liberal Party, the Save Romania Union and the Peoples Movement Party, announced they would not interfere with the Social Democrats internal conflict, so they will not take part in the vote. The Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, which has no seats in the Government, but has signed a parliamentary cooperation protocol with the Power, refrains from making public their position until Wednesday.



So the Prime Minister, on the one hand, and the heads of the ruling coalition, the Social Democrat Liviu Dragnea and the Liberal Democrat Calin Popescu Tariceanu on the other, spare no efforts these days in order to maximize their chances. Asked by the media, the majority MPs promised to vote as the party instructs them to. Most of the local branches of the party have also announced they supported Dragnea. One notable exception is the Timis County organization, headed by Grindeanu himself, who even traveled there on Saturday to talk to people face to face.



In addition, he started to fill the vacancies in his Cabinet, and brought the former Social Democratic PM Victor Ponta as his new Secretary General. According to analysts, the latter is just one of a line of former prominent leftist leaders to join the Grindeanu Cabinet out of hostility toward Dragnea and may tip the scales in Grindeanus favour.



Meanwhile, the Government and the Social Democratic Party keep exchanging accusations. Grindeanu claims Dragnea wants all the power to himself. Dragnea retorts that his ungrateful trainee, whom he had nominated for the PM post, is now following orders coming from other, unclearly defined, command centres, be they the Presidency or the secret services.



Neutral commentators believe however that the Social Democrats are angry that Grindeanu failed to loosen the anti-corruption legislation, which many of them, including Dragnea, are trying to dodge. Already subject to a two-year suspended sentence, Dragnea is tried in a new corruption-related case, in which prosecutors accuse him of incitement to commit abuse of office.



Amused or outraged, people hope the settling of accounts in the Social Democratic Party to end quickly, because the countrys political instability is already affecting the economy. And the national currency, the leu, last week reached its lowest exchange rate against the Euro in 5 years. (Edited by D. Vijeu)

Signing of the protocol (foto:
Today in the News Friday, 22 November 2024

Transition program towards F-35, launched

The Romanian Air Force’s transition program to 5th generation aircraft has been launched.   Romania’s decision to acquire advanced fighter...

Transition program towards F-35, launched
Energy (foto: EdWhiteImages / pixabay.com)
Today in the News Friday, 22 November 2024

The National Energy Strategy, adopted

Using local resources, reducing imports and making massive investments in production capacity are important elements of the new National Energy...

The National Energy Strategy, adopted
European Commission (photo: © European Union - Source: EC - Audiovisual Service / Photographer: Christophe Licoppe)
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

Political agreement on the new European Commission

    The leaders of the three major political groups in the European Parliament have given the green light to the members of the next...

Political agreement on the new European Commission
Photo: aep.ro
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

13 for Romania

    In Romania, presidential elections usually spark the greatest interest and emotions. Even more so this year, when the two rounds of the...

13 for Romania
Today in the News Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading

On Tuesday, the Romanian company Romgaz launched its first issue of bonds on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, worth 500 million EUR. Romgaz is the...

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania ahead of the presidential election

Next month, President Klaus Iohannis will end his second and last five-year term in office according to the Romanian Constitution. The so-called...

Romania ahead of the presidential election
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels

NATO welcomes Romania’s continuous efforts and its significant contribution to strengthening the Alliance and Euro-Atlantic security, NATO...

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels
Today in the News Monday, 18 November 2024

Downward forecast from the European Commission

Romania’s economic growth estimate has been recalculated by the European Commission (EC), at a value well below the initially established...

Downward forecast from the European Commission

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company