Government presents 6-month review

The Liberals and the Social Democrats looked back at their government work after 6 months in office

Roxana Vasile, 27.05.2022, 14:00

Until recently sworn political enemies, the National Liberal Party and
the Social Democratic Party were forced to form a government together 6
months ago. Together with the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania,
they set out to synchronise their doctrines and form a coalition able to run
the country until the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

It took lengthy and careful negotiations to assign the seats in the
government, and they agreed, among other things, that until the end of November
2023 the prime minister will be the Liberal Nicolae Ciucă, who will be replaced
by a Social Democrat for the remaining period until the general elections of 2024.

The context in which the two parties have to work together is not at all
easy: the effects of the pandemic, the Russian invasion in neighbouring Ukraine
with all the problems it entailed, the skyrocketing energy prices triggering increases
in the price of all products and services and generating record-high inflation,
with severe repercussions on people’s lives.

With the parliamentary election still a long way down the road, the
cooperation between the Liberals and the Social Democrats is smooth, at least
for the time being. Still, the 2 parties presented a review of their 6 months
in power in separate meetings.

The Liberal PM Nicolae Ciucă said the government was gradually drawing
closer to meeting all the goals listed in the governing programme. He added
that the ministries worked hard not to waste the unique opportunities the
country has at this point.

Romania has the biggest economic growth rate in the EU, and over EUR 90 billion
available for development and modernisation, as well as the most important
security guarantees ensured by the EU and NATO membership, Nicolae Ciucă argued.

In turn, the Social Democratic leader Marcel Ciolacu focused on the
social and economic measures to support citizens and the business environment
in the first 6 months in government. He mentioned the raise in minimum wages,
pensions and child benefits, the winter financial aid granted to low-income pensioners
and the extension of furlough benefits.

The opposition sees things differently. After leaving the government
they had formed together with the Liberals, Save Romania Union now argues that
Romania is headed for disaster: the government is borrowing money from the
capital market for the highest interests in the past 20 years, government debt
is over 50% of the GDP, the inflation rate is record-high, prices are out of
control, citizens are growing poorer while party clients are getting richer.

In turn, the nationalist party AUR believes the Social Democrats and the
Liberals have pushed Romania into bankruptcy by doubling fuel prices and
selling the natural gas to be extracted from the Black Sea.

But it is the Romanian voters who will give a final verdict at the
election in 2024. (AMP)