Ilie Bolojan announced the start of negotiations for the merger between PNL and Forța Dreptei, led by Ludovic Orban. The discussions will be completed by the beginning of December, and the merger will be ready „in the first quarter of next year”.
Thus, the first step was taken towards creating the Pole of Modernization.
"Today is a first discussion with Mr. Ludovic Orban, as a result of the decisions of the two parties, PNL and Forța Dreptei, from yesterday, to merge.
This project is necessary for Romania, because we are in a situation where development has reached its limits, and for Romania to move forward and develop, we need deep reforms. These reforms mean having a state that no longer wastes money, a state that offers better services to citizens, a state that fights privileges and injustices, that puts the economy on healthy foundations, that rewards work, a state where one can prosper," said the PNL president.
Ilie Bolojan stated that he aims to create a serious alternative to the "PSD-AUR axis," by bringing together all reformist forces on the political scene or from civil society.
"It is necessary, and we aim to bring together all energies from society, all organizations and all competent people who want to be part of this change and fight for the Romania of tomorrow, for a modern Romania.
For this, what is happening now is a first step and, regardless of the statements made in the public space, we see that there is a PSD-AUR axis, which even these days in Parliament continues to capture state institutions, and what we aim for is to offer a serious alternative," continued the former prime minister.
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The PNL president also announced a timeline for completing the merger.
"We have set that by the beginning of December we will finalize the merger negotiations and, at the latest, in the first quarter of next year, we will go through the statutory procedures, national councils, and congresses to conclude this political project and continue the construction, starting with the first part of next year," Bolojan added.
"I thank Mr. Ludovic Orban and the colleagues from Forța Dreptei for this decision. Welcome back home!" concluded Ilie Bolojan.
In turn, Ludovic Orban said that the Political Bureau unanimously decided to carry out the merger by absorption of Forța Dreptei into PNL.
Also, Orban received a mandate to negotiate with the PNL team to go through the necessary steps for the "reintegration of the liberals from Forța Dreptei into their home".
"There is no longer any reason for us, the liberals from Forța Dreptei, not to return home alongside Ilie Bolojan and his team," said Ludovic Orban.
Most members of Forța Dreptei are liberals, "who left in exile when President Klaus Iohannis imposed on the leadership of the National Liberal Party a decision totally opposed to the will of liberal voters".
The leader of Forța Dreptei explained that this refers to "imposing governance with PSD and a political cohabitation project".
"Today there is no longer any reason for us, the liberals from Forța Dreptei, not to return home alongside Ilie Bolojan and his team," Orban added, saying that PNL has "returned to the normal, correct, responsible, and serious position of truly representing voters who want a modern Romania, a democratic Romania, a Romania that guarantees your fundamental rights and freedoms".