The new Government takes shape

The Prime Minister designate, Ludovic Orban, has submitted to Parliament the list with his proposals for the future Cabinet and the governing programme.

Roxana Vasile, 25.10.2019, 13:55

Prime Minister designate, Ludovic Orban on Thursday submitted to Parliament a list with his proposals for ministers and the future Cabinet’s governing programme. Under the law, the Permanent Bureaus of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate have 15 days to convene and set the date for Parliament’s plenary sitting, held after the potential ministers are heard in the expert committees. The new Liberal Government, openly supported by the head of state, Klaus Iohannis, needs 233 votes to pass. Things, however, are complicated in this respect. The Social Democrats have already criticized the new governing programme announced by Orban.

Outgoing Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, whose Cabinet was dismissed through a censure motion, has warned that the programme allegedly includes austerity measures, in particular for public servants. The Social Democrats have announced ever since October 10, when their Government was dismissed, that they would not take part in the voting in Parliament, so there would be no quorum. The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE), that initially voiced their support for the Orban Government, said they are against the proposal of having a general as head of the Defense Ministry, arguing that it should be a civilian in charge with the ministry, in keeping with the country’s NATO commitments.

In his turn, the Pro Romania president, Victor Ponta, doubts the fact that Ludovic Orban would make a good PM. On their part, the Save Romania Union believe the new Cabinet stands good chances to pass, while the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), says that, at a first glance, the new team seems acceptable. Prime Minister designate, Ludovic Orban, has given assurances that he has selected his team after a thorough selection, and that the governing programme includes urgent objectives.

Among them is the adoption of an emergency order regarding the Government’s restructuring, the organization of the upcoming presidential elections, the revision of the current state budget and the drawing up of the new one. The document also provides for keeping the flat tax at its current level and for correcting the justice laws and the laws with a negative impact on the economy. Orban is confident that his Cabinet will pass, and in order for that to happen, he will further hold talks with independent, non-affiliated and Social Democratic MPs, to make sure he can count on their votes.

(Translated by Elena Enache)