RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

The Fall of the Grindeanu Cabinet

Parliament passed a motion to censure the government headed by Sorin Grindeanu

The Fall of the Grindeanu Cabinet
The Fall of the Grindeanu Cabinet

, 22.06.2017, 13:15

In what remains a first for the Parliament of Romania, the ruling coalition Wednesday dismissed its own Government through a no-confidence motion. The only members of the executive team to oppose the move were PM Sorin Grindeanu, the Government secretary General Victor Ponta, and the Communications Minister, Augustin Jianu.



The opposition parties chose not to get involved in the domestic conflict within the Social Democratic Party, whereas the parliamentary group representing the ethnic minorities in Romania, a group that always supports the Power, left it to each of its members to decide how they would vote. The Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania and the Save Romania Union refrained from voting. A total number of 241 MPs voted in favour of the motion, 8 more than the law required.



A Social Democrat for more than 20 years, Sorin Grindeanu became a persona non-grata within 6 months since becoming Prime Minister. The president of the Social Democratic Party, Liviu Dragnea, argues that by removing Grindeanu the party intended to dismiss a Cabinet that failed to implement the governing programme and the campaign promises thanks to which the Social Democrats won the general elections in December 2016. Further to a party-run assessment, the Social Democrats withdrew their political support for Sorin Grindeanu, on grounds that he failed to implement the required economic reforms.



The PM denied the accusation and refused to step down, thus forcing the party that nominated him to office to resort to a motion to censure. After the no-confidence vote in Parliament, Sorin Grindeanu pleaded for unity in the Social Democratic Party, and said he would continue his work until Parliament endorses a new Cabinet:



Sorin Grindeanu: “What matters now is for us to overcome this deadlock and to convince investors and the international community that Romania remains a stable and predictable country.



According to Liviu Dragnea, the party has come out stronger from this political move. He added that in the consultations that President Klaus Iohannis will have on Monday with the parliamentary parties, the Social Democrats would nominate a person able to ensure the meeting of the goals in the governing programme.



Liviu Dragnea: “Romania has returned to normality and to the boundaries defined by the Constitution. It was a political action for which the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats took responsibility. We do not want to see an ambitious governing programme jeopardised.



The Liberal Democrat leader Călin Popescu Tăriceanu said the no-confidence vote proves that the parliamentary majority is efficient.



In Opposition, the National Liberal Party did not take part in the vote and emphasised that all accusations made against Sorin Grindeanu are valid for the two parties in the ruling coalition, which, the Liberals claim, are incapable of governing in a modern, European style. Here is the new president of the National Liberal Party, Ludovic Orban:



Ludovic Orban: “On Monday we will have a meeting of the National Political Bureau together with the floor groups, to decide on the strategy of the Liberal party. Only when all the Social Democrats are sent home, will things return to normal in Romania.



The same opinion is shared by the leader of the Peoples Movement Party, Traian Băsescu:



Traian Băsescu: “The Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats have proved they are unable to govern. Which is why this parliamentary majority actually belongs in the Opposition.


(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

Photo: pixabay.com
Today in the News Tuesday, 29 April 2025

Talks on magistrates’ retirement continue

The Romanian Senate has postponed by two weeks a debate on the bill amending the retirement age for magistrates and how their pensions are...

Talks on magistrates’ retirement continue
Photo: agentia media a armatei
Today in the News Tuesday, 29 April 2025

Strengthening readiness in the field of defence

In an increasingly complex geopolitical context, Romania is focusing its efforts on strengthening its defence capacity at national level, but also in...

Strengthening readiness in the field of defence
Photo: ©European Union, 2017, Source: EC - Audiovisual Service Photographer: Mauro Bottaro
Today in the News Monday, 28 April 2025

The 20th anniversary of a historic treaty

It’s been 20 years since Romania signed its EU accession treaty, which allowed it to officially become a member of the European Union on 1st...

The 20th anniversary of a historic treaty
Credits: Facebook/Sorin Grindeanu
Today in the News Monday, 28 April 2025

Additional bridges over Prut River

Romania and the Republic of Moldova will soon be connected by a new bridge over the Prut. The new bridge, for which construction works started last...

Additional bridges over Prut River
Today in the News Friday, 25 April 2025

The Environment Fund Administration gets record budget

The Environment Fund Administration this year received from the government a record budget for investments, worth over 3.2 billion euros. The money...

The Environment Fund Administration gets record budget
Today in the News Friday, 25 April 2025

Measures for the Romanian education

During Thursday’s meeting, the Romanian government discussed several laws related to education. They established the legal framework for...

Measures for the Romanian education
Today in the News Thursday, 24 April 2025

A new law on the magistrates’ pensions

There are several occupational categories in Romania whose employees are usually retiring under the age of 50 and whose pensions aren’t exclusively...

A new law on the magistrates’ pensions
Today in the News Thursday, 24 April 2025

Downward forecast revision from the World Bank

According to its latest report, the World Bank expects growth in developing economies in Europe and Central Asia to slow down to 2.5% in 2025-2026...

Downward forecast revision from the World Bank

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