USR President Dominic Fritz stated on Tuesday, following consultations at the Cotroceni Palace with President Nicușor Dan, that his party will not support a governing formula that includes PSD. Instead, USR is willing to participate in a minority government alongside PNL and UDMR.
The USR delegation spent less than 20 minutes at the discussions convened by the head of state to identify a governmental solution, after the Cabinet proposed by Adrian Veștea was rejected in Parliament on Monday evening.
Attending the consultations alongside Dominic Fritz were ministers Oana Țoiu, Diana Buzoianu, Radu Miruță, and Irineu Darău, as well as deputy Ionuț Moșteanu.
"The country needs a clear direction"
The USR leader stated that Romania needs not only a government that can secure the 233 votes required in Parliament but also a clear reform program.
Among the priorities mentioned by Fritz are reducing state privileges and expenses, decreasing the budget deficit, streamlining administration, digitalization, and reforming control institutions.
"USR believes that the country needs not just a government that can somehow pass with 233 votes in Parliament, but above all, it needs a clear direction," he affirmed.
USR: PSD no longer has the trust of Romanians
Dominic Fritz argued that the Social Democrats have lost credibility with the electorate and that PSD's presence in government would hinder the necessary reforms.
"All these things, we believe, are not possible at this moment with a PSD in government that clearly no longer has the trust of Romanians," stated the USR leader.
He then reiterated that his party cannot support a governmental formula that includes PSD: "I told the president that USR will not be able to support a government that includes PSD. This is a position that is not new."
Preferred option: minority government
However, USR is willing to participate in a minority government formed together with PNL and UDMR, which would have parliamentary support for urgent reforms.
"We are ready to take responsibility in a minority government," stated Fritz.
- Nicușor Dan and PSD, the big losers in Parliament. The designated prime minister faltered
- A shadow of Nicușor. Is it time for a PSD-AUR assumed government?
USR is not afraid of early elections
The USR leader stated that the current parliamentary configuration increasingly does not reflect the electorate's choices and mentioned that his party does not fear the possibility of early elections. "We are not afraid of early elections. On the contrary, we believe that such a step could re-legitimize the democratic process in Romania," Fritz declared.
However, he admitted that such a scenario is unlikely in the current political context, which is why USR is trying to find a governance solution that can work in the current Parliament.