Designated Prime Minister Siegfried Mureșan announced that he will present his Government in Parliament, even though PSD has decided not to vote for it. However, he excludes the cooptation of social democrats in the future Cabinet and says he will not negotiate with AUR.
Mureșan promised not to increase taxes and stated that VAT could return from 21% to 19% when the budget situation allows. However, he did not provide a timeline for a potential reduction in taxation or for pension and salary indexation.
Asked on Monday evening if he will seek Parliament's vote after the announced refusal by PSD, the designated Prime Minister responded: "Definitely, yes. We will go to a vote in Parliament for several reasons."
Why He Goes to Parliament
Mureșan explained, on ProTV News, that he wants to present his government program to Romanians, focused on reforming the administration and restructuring state-owned companies. "First of all, for people to know what we propose for Romania: a new, modern state, a reformed central public administration, streamlined, efficient local administration, restructuring of state-owned companies. We reduce losses in state-owned companies and use the money for healthcare, education, schools, kindergartens, where needed," he stated.
The designated Prime Minister said that the vote will also show the position of each parliamentarian and each political group. "We will go to the Romanian Parliament, first of all, to present a vision for Romania, secondly, to show people how each parliamentarian, each parliamentary group votes. And, thirdly, out of respect for the Romanian Constitution and the President, a designation procedure is treated seriously," Mureșan affirmed.
He argued that some PSD parliamentarians are afraid of presenting "a truly reformed program."
Accuses Grindeanu of Lack of Respect
Mureșan criticized PSD for expressing reservations about his candidacy before the designation decree was published in the Official Gazette.
"I was surprised by Mr. Grindeanu's lack of respect today towards the President of Romania. PSD almost said they have reservations about my candidacy before the nomination decree was published in the Official Gazette. I consider their gesture to be hostile towards the President of Romania," he stated.
The designated Prime Minister will start negotiations with PNL, USR, and UDMR, the parties he considers partners. Later, he will discuss with the group of national minorities and will even try to obtain votes from PSD. "I will seek to have a civilized dialogue with PSD," Mureșan specified.
The government program is expected to be finalized on Tuesday.
Discussions with PSD, but Without PSD in Government
Siegfried Mureșan made a distinction between discussions to obtain votes and the cooptation of social democrats in the future Cabinet. "I believe Romania can be governed by PNL, together with USR and UDMR, or by PSD. We, together with them, cannot govern anymore, after the experience of the last year when they did not respect their commitments and brought down the government they were part of. Therefore, either them or us, but not together," declared the designated Prime Minister.
Mureșan specified that he will have an organized dialogue with the PSD parliamentary group and will not try to individually attract social-democratic parliamentarians.
"We will have an organized, frank dialogue with the PSD. They know that I am not a PSD member, there are many things on which we have common views, but it will be a moment of truth for them: will PSD support a pro-European government that will do good things for Romania, or will they strengthen their partnership with AUR?" he said.
"We will treat them with respect, as a parliamentary group, we will not try to divide the parliamentary group," emphasized Mureșan.
Will Not Negotiate with AUR
Mureșan ruled out negotiations with AUR, which he says has a fundamentally different vision of Romania's future. "I will not engage in dialogue with AUR, you will not see me at the AUR headquarters or at the AUR parliamentary group," declared the designated Prime Minister.
In his opinion, the investiture vote will represent the "truth test" for PSD: "If they will stick with AUR or if they will vote for this government."
AUR had already announced that they see no reason to participate in discussions with Mureșan and that they will not vote for a Cabinet they are not part of.
Harsh Attack on PSD
The designated Prime Minister rejected the economic data presented by Sorin Grindeanu, who mentioned the decrease in purchasing power, the collapse of consumption and industrial production, the reduction of foreign investments, and the increase in energy and fuel prices.
"I don't believe that the history of the PSD is about telling the truth. The history of the PSD is about trying to confuse people. PSD has always wanted people to be weak, blackmailable, manipulable, controllable," Mureșan retorted.
He argued that the economy was "on the brink of the abyss" a year ago but has since been stabilized through measures that Ilie Bolojan did not take "lightly."
Grindeanu stated that PSD cannot endorse "the continuation of this economic model of disaster" and that they cannot vote for Mureșan after he presented himself as a continuator of Ilie Bolojan's policies.
Promise Regarding Taxes
Mureșan assured that the future Government will not adopt new tax increases. "Tax increases are no longer necessary. We will not raise taxes. I would like to lower them as soon as possible, we will do it as soon as we can," stated the designated Prime Minister.
He even mentioned the possibility of reducing VAT from 21% to 19%: "I hope we can also return with VAT, which is now at 21%, back to 19%, as soon as possible."
However, he avoided promising immediate reductions and conditioned any potential pension and salary indexations on the existence of budget space. "I cannot promise immediate tax cuts, but as soon as possible, we will do this. An indexing of pensions, an indexing of salaries, is certainly desirable as soon as we have space," he said.
Government or Snap Elections
The designated Prime Minister warned that the alternative to the investiture of his Cabinet could be the organization of snap elections. "Especially parliamentarians need to know that it is either this government or snap elections," Mureșan stated.
"I wouldn't want to be a parliamentarian, a member of the Romanian Parliament, maybe from a party that has just passed the threshold, and find out from the television that the Parliament has been dissolved and that I would go home. So it is very clear that it is either this government or the real possibility of snap elections," he continued.
However, Mureșan expressed confidence that the future Cabinet can obtain the necessary majority: "I believe that this government has a chance to pass."
In the event of snap elections, he expects a confrontation between AUR and the "reformist forces" represented by PNL and USR, alongside Ilie Bolojan. The designated Prime Minister acknowledged that PNL made mistakes in governance but believes that the party can regain some of the AUR voters through concrete solutions.
"I don't think we should engage in an ideological competition with AUR, but we need to present real solutions to people's problems and think about the country, not about each of us," Mureșan concluded.