Romania’s Social Democrats have voted to form a minority government, a solution that could potentially end a seven-week political crisis that has raised concerns about stability and seen the national currency plummet in the EU and NATO member. .
The Social Democrats, known as the PSD, were the co-architects of a vote of no-confidence which ousted Liberal Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan last month, caused by tensions over spending cuts. The PSD was the biggest party in the four-party coalition.
The party on Wednesday voted for PSD chairman Sorin Grindeanu as prime minister, Grindeanu, who has been prime minister before, said the party had a team to negotiate with other pro-Western parties to come to a political agreement to support a minority government.
If President Nicusor Dan nominates Grindeanu, and his government fails to pass Parliament, Romania could face snap elections.
Grindeanu said the PSD would have full autonomy over the governing program and it would be a one-party government, which is unusual in Romania.
He said the PSD would form a government “only under clear and transparent conditions.”
“That is why we decided to have a negotiating team, which would discuss with the other pro-Western political parties in Parliament the draft of a political agreement,” he said.
He said Romania’s short and medium-term priorities were the PNRR, OECD, SAFE and meeting deficit targets but not “ conditions imposed on the Social Democratic Party.”
“The PSD will have full autonomy over the governing program. If there will be a PSD government, then it will be a government that will not be afraid and will not doff its hat to anyone. It will be at the service of Romanians and that’s it. T
“(Our) objective is simple, economic recovery and regaining Romanians’ confidence in the ability of the political class to deliver prosperity,” he added.
