Romania’s political parties went into the final straight of discussions ahead of a vote of no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan which could tip the country into a prolonged period of crisis and harm investor confidence.
On paper, the Social Democrats which quit the government last month over austerity cuts, and the hard right AUR party easily have the 233 votes they need to topple Bolojan who has undertaken spending cuts to reduce the bloated budget deficit of 7.9% last year, the highest in the European Union.
Bolojan is expected to make public statements Monday evening in an interview on Antena1 and present his strategy ahead of Tuesday’s vote.
Hundreds of people rallied on Sunday evening in Bucharest in support of the beleaguered but also popular prime minister outside the Victory Palace, the government offices. There was also rally in his home city of Oradea, western Romania.
Bolojan thanked supporters and said: „I understand this as support for the modernization of Romania.”
President Nicușor Dan is currently taking part in the European Political Community in Yerevan, Armenia and will return later Monday.
The no-confidence motion headlined “STOP the “Bolojan Plan” for the destruction of the economy, impoverishment of the population and fraudulent sale of state assets” was signed by 254 parliamentarians, substantially over the 233 votes majority needed to dismiss the government.
However, leaders of Bolojan’s Liberal Party say some lawmakers may change their minds and not vote on the motion.
“Not everyone who signs a motion also votes for it. There are parliamentarians who were forced to sign the motion, even if they do not agree with the PSD and AUR throwing the country into chaos,” wrote Gabriel Andronache, leader of the Liberal lawmakers, on social media.
But initiator, Marian Neacșu of the PSD said he believed the motion would easily pass. “If you want my personal opinion, we will have a higher number of votes than the number of signatories.”
Votes of the non-affiliated lawmakers are not guaranteed, however, it appears. One, Aurora Tasica Simu, who entered Parliament on the POT lists, said: “The desperation is great, I signed your motion of censure, but that does not mean that it will pass! Let’s see if it passes.”
