Just a few hours after the Coalition leaders announced they had reached a consensus, tensions resurfaced around the Budget Law. PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu stated that the social democrats would not vote on the budget if the so-called „solidarity package” is not included in the final version of the law and warned that support for Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan directly depends on this vote.
The statements were made on Romania TV, just five hours after the Coalition meeting where a political „peace” had been announced.
"The real battle will be fought over the budget"
"The real battle will be fought over the budget. PSD wants to impose the solidarity package and local-level investments," said the social-democrat leader.
When asked if Ilie Bolojan will retain his position as prime minister, Grindeanu explicitly tied the government's future to the budget vote.
"It depends a lot on what I was saying earlier, on the budget. PSD and personally, let me tell you that we are not part of this sect, quite the opposite. These messianic accents don't impress me. I'm not playing this card, so to speak, the genesis after Bolojan. What interests us now are some simple things - economic recovery, investment funds, solidarity package. If these things pass, then we will have a budget and we will continue to have a prime minister. If we start again with discussions and all sorts of news from sources, then we won't have a budget and we will withdraw our confidence in the prime minister. I think I've been clear," said Grindeanu.
He emphasized that without including PSD's demands in the budget, the party will not vote on the law.
Manole: money can come from VAT
Minister of Labor, Petre-Florin Manole, explained on Antena 3 that PSD will propose to the prime minister that the solidarity package be funded from the additional VAT revenues, which had increased by approximately 12 billion lei after the raise.
The minister was asked where the cost of these measures could be supported. "From the country's budget. From where we get the money for any expenses made by this government," Manole said. "There are many areas where last year's budget increased. I'll give you an example, I think there was a 12 billion increase in VAT collection. It was mainly achieved through increased collection in the sense that some wrongdoers were found and made to pay? Or from the extraordinary and burdensome increase in prices for some food items?" the minister added.
The minister expressed confidence that the package will be adopted "within two weeks at most."
What the solidarity package contains
PSD proposes:
- increasing the allowance for children with disabilities;
- raising benefits for children from vulnerable families;
- exempting parents on childcare leave and war veterans from health contributions;
- one-time aid for pensioners.
For pensioners with incomes below 3,000 lei, support is expected to be provided in two installments (April and December): 1,000 lei for those with pensions below 1,500 lei, 800 lei for those between 1,500 and 2,000 lei, and 600 lei for those between 2,000 and 3,000 lei.
"The situation requires it even in 2026. It's about support for 2.8 million pensioners, those with pensions below 3,000 lei who feel the burden of inflation and price increases the most. For these categories, we have 1,000, 800, or 600 lei in two installments. Half for April, half for December. We thought about the peak expenses for each family as in previous years. Inflation has hit hardest those who spend most of their income on consumption," said the Minister of Labor.
Attack on the "positive recession"
Grindeanu also criticized the economic discourse of the right-wing. "I haven't heard of a positive recession before. That's what this right-wing propaganda has been claiming these days. People look into their pockets and they're empty. They say it's good. You can't make a glory title out of laying off people and reducing salaries. This approach needs to stop," said the PSD leader.