PSD leader Marcel Ciolacu announced on Thursday that his party is withdrawing from the coalition, but will vote in Parliament for a right-wing government.
Ciolacu says that PSD is withdrawing with dignity from the discussions table, but is not shying away from responsibility.
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"To be clear! Both I and the party I lead perfectly understood the Romanian vote! It was a vote of censure against a political class more concerned with sterile disputes and revenge than with the lives of Romanians!
That is why we felt obliged to set aside what has been, to move beyond the breach of trust by our Coalition partners and to try to move forward together, as quickly as possible, to provide this country with a stable and functional government!
Being aware of the serious situation in which Romania finds itself, a situation already signaled not only by our European partners but also by international financial institutions, we went even further, initiating the formation of a broader coalition composed of all pro-European parties.
Unfortunately, you cannot build anything lasting with partners who are unable to overcome their own egos and ideological clichés and who behave the same way as during the electoral campaign that brought us here. You cannot establish anything concrete with people who say one thing behind closed doors and another in front of the press. You cannot achieve anything with so-called partners who are "disgusted" to sit at the table with you and who believe they are being "tainted"," wrote Marcel Ciolacu on Facebook.
PSD leader also says that his party has endured enough of such attitudes.
"PSD has endured enough of such attitudes, without commenting and without causing a stir as others have done. This way of working is completely counterproductive in front of the people. That is why PSD is withdrawing with dignity from the discussions table, but we are not shying away from responsibility.
We will vote in Parliament for a right-wing government! We do this because this country urgently needs a government to manage current issues until the upcoming presidential elections. Romania must not be thrown into chaos by childish attitudes and foolish egos," Marcel Ciolacu further stated.
Where the discussions have stalled
Later, present at the construction site of Highway 7, Marcel Ciolacu came with further explanations. He stated that he takes responsibility for the decision to withdraw from the negotiations for forming the government and mentioned that he had spoken with his colleagues beforehand.
Ciolacu said that there will also be a discussion with the president of PNL, and with the president of UDMR, and he sincerely hopes with the president of USR as well.
"I am a politician who takes responsibility. And I take responsibility for this decision. Of course, there will be discussions with the president of the National Liberal Party, and with the president of UDMR, and I sincerely hope with the president of USR, because we all need to see the truth. But I cannot push my colleagues into a political adventure, at least with a minimum of respect (...) If anyone believes that I, Marcel Ciolacu, will push my colleagues into a political adventure, with a limited period of time, depending on who wins, with all the political games of each party, they have lost me as a partner," he added, according to News.ro.
Asked where the discussions have specifically stalled, the president of PSD said that "nowhere." "Yesterday, I saw a partner with whom I sat at the table for many hours and many days, saying they do not want to be tainted by PSD and they are disgusted to sit at the table with PSD. We have no problem," Ciolacu pointed out.
"The Social Democratic Party is once again the largest party in Romania. I do not see what disgust I could have transmitted, what feelings of hatred I could have transmitted when I respected every colleague within the Romanian Government, regardless of their political color. Therefore, I believe it is best for PNL, USR, UDMR, national minorities to take over governance and develop Romania.
I have understood something from the Romanian vote. And my colleagues. The turning point came after Romanians gave us 50% on a joint list," added Marcel Ciolacu.