Designated Prime Minister Siegfried Mureșan says he starts with the support of 169 parliamentarians, but he needs another 64 votes for the future government to pass through Parliament.
He will first discuss with PNL, USR, and UDMR, the parties that support him, then with representatives of national minorities and with PSD. However, Mureșan excludes negotiations with AUR and says he will not modify the government program to obtain the party’s votes.
"We start at the moment with 169 votes. This is the number of parliamentarians that the National Liberal Party, USR, and UDMR currently have," said Siegfried Mureșan on Friday evening on Digi24.
At least 233 votes are required for the Government's investiture.
Program to be presented next week
The designated Prime Minister announced that the main measures from the government program will be presented at the beginning of next week.
The first discussions will take place with the parliamentary groups of PNL, USR, and UDMR. Subsequently, Mureșan wants to meet with parliamentarians from national minorities. "The discussion must always start from what we will propose for Romania. It seems natural to go first to present the ideas to the parliamentary groups of the three parties that support me," he explained.
The next step will be a discussion with PSD, a party whose votes are essential for forming a majority.
"After that, the moment of truth will come for PSD. PSD will have to choose whether to support a pro-European government or to strengthen its partnership with AUR," stated the designated Prime Minister.
Mureșan added that he is willing to have "a frank, open discussion" with the social democrats and to present them the program of the future government.
No negotiations with AUR
Asked if he will also go to the AUR parliamentary group, Siegfried Mureșan categorically replied: "I will not go to the headquarters or the AUR group."
He specified that all discussions held as designated Prime Minister will be official, and that he will not modify the government program to obtain the support of the party led by George Simion. "I will not alter the government program to please a party that is not pro-European," stated Mureșan.
However, Mureșan admitted that he cannot prevent AUR parliamentarians from voting for the future Cabinet if they decide to do so. "If I say something that is correct, in which I believe, which is pro-European and good for Romania, and certain parliamentarians vote for it, I cannot stop them," he explained.
Mureșan emphasized that he will not make any compromises that would question the pro-European orientation of the future executive.
Not considering stepping down
Siegfried Mureșan also rules out the possibility of resigning if, before the Parliament vote, he finds out that he does not have the necessary 233 votes. "No, I do not consider resigning," he said.
The designated Prime Minister stated that he will go through all the planned stages: finalizing the program, discussions with parliamentarians, presenting the team of ministers, committee hearings, and the investiture vote.
"The President of Romania designated me, we will work on the government program, then we will meet with the parliamentarians, present our program, then present the Cabinet and submit the list of ministers and the government program to Parliament," said Mureșan.
When asked again if there is any scenario in which he could give up the mandate before the vote, he replied: "I do not consider resigning."