Acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan stated on Wednesday that the option of a technocratic government is among the scenarios discussed in the current political context, but cautioned that such an Executive would face difficulties in performing without solid political support in Parliament.
Regarding the negotiations for forming the government, Bolojan mentioned that at this moment there is no conclusion, and there hasn’t been explicit discussion about a specific prime minister candidate.
In an interview with DigiFM, Bolojan strongly criticized PSD, stating that the party "has deserted its responsibility" after contributing to the fall of the government it was part of and now does not take responsibility for nominating a prime minister. According to him, the social democrats preferred to avoid political responsibility, even though they should have "claimed the position of prime minister."
The acting Prime Minister explained that the experience of the past months has shown him how difficult it is for an Executive without clear political support to implement reforms and maintain budget discipline. He warned that without firm political accountability, lawmakers will continue to vote for populist measures involving new budgetary expenses, which could seriously affect the state's financial balance.
"Without political accountability, everyone will avoid responsibility but will vote for all projects that sound good," said Bolojan, adding that a technocratic government risks being blocked or altered in Parliament.
The Government Chief accused PSD of trying to simultaneously play the role of the Power and the Opposition while in office, and of hindering the reforms promoted by the Executive. He argued that tensions peaked with the no-confidence motion triggered after attempts to reduce budget waste.
Asked if PNL would support a technocratic government, Bolojan stated that the Liberals will analyze both the person proposed for the prime minister position and the government program and Cabinet composition. He specified that PNL will not vote for an Executive made up of "PSD surrogates" or a program that does not address Romania's real issues.
Ilie Bolojan does not rule out the possibility of being renominated for the position of prime minister. He says it is only a "secondary option," and the decision is not his to make.
Main Statements:
- What I can confirm, because I have seen all sorts of names being put forward, no explicit discussions have taken place about any specific name. That's what I can confirm.
- From my point of view, the quicker a solution is found to this crisis, the better. Because, no matter what is said, an interim government has limited capabilities. If a government solution is not found before the start of the parliamentary recess, the Government will not be able to issue any emergency ordinances during the recess.
- The hypothesis of such a government (technocratic - ed.) is one that has been put forward.
- Why? Because, under normal conditions, after the Social Democratic Party brought down the government it was part of, essentially forming a parliamentary majority with AUR, since they do not take responsibility for this, since they do not present themselves as they should, to claim the prime minister position, which, once obtained, could demonstrate how you can solve all problems without bothering anyone, but they lack this courage and responsibility.
- Of course, in the situation we are in, where PSD has deserted its responsibility, it is practically one of the possibilities that have been mentioned.
- It is difficult for a technocratic prime minister to perform.
- Without political accountability, everyone will avoid responsibility but will vote for all projects, proposals that sound good, and the Government could come up with a bill that is completely changed in Parliament, and we may end up with additional expenses that will breach any budgetary commitment.
- It is very difficult to perform in a political context where those who should have minimal responsibility have no responsibility at all.
- Unfortunately, this happened in these 10 months when PSD, although in power, first tried to evade responsibility by playing the opposition role in power.
- In the second place, they tried to block, pulling the handbrake on all reforms, delaying them, and in the end, because we tried to limit waste, we ended up with a no-confidence motion. Therefore, with such an attitude, it is difficult to assume that a technocratic government will receive support.
- In the event of a proposal for a technocratic government, we will have to see who the proposed prime minister is, what the government program is, what it aims to do, who the key ministers are because if they are ministers who are a sort of PSD surrogates, we will certainly not vote for such a government, or if it is a government program that does not address our realities, the issues Romania faces, and does not provide solutions to the country's problems.
- To be prime minister again? PSD was able to form a majority, albeit with AUR, and therefore the responsibility lies with them to form a government. Considering this situation, if they cannot prove this or if a government is not formed, other options should certainly be sought. And PNL is a responsible party, which proved last year, in a very difficult situation where nobody rushed to become the Prime Minister of Romania, knowing that they would not have to make good or very good decisions, only difficult decisions, we analyzed such an appointment (his renomination - ed.) as seriously as possible. But this is a secondary option. Such a hypothesis has not been discussed because it is neither the primary hypothesis nor has the primary hypothesis been used yet. Obviously, it cannot be the primary hypothesis.