The Social Democrats have given Marcel Ciolacu the mandate to negotiate participation in the government and obtaining the position of prime minister, considering the election results, announced the party’s spokesperson Lucian Romaşcanu after the party leadership meeting on Monday. He also mentioned when the new government will be operational.
Lucian Romaşcanu stated after the National Political Council of the PSD that discussions were held regarding the mandate that will be entrusted to the party’s president, Marcel Ciolacu, and the leadership team in the upcoming negotiations, both for continuing discussions on parliamentary majorities and for discussing a possible participation in the government.
At the same time, there were numerous interventions from colleagues regarding what happened in the elections, how they see the future, but based on all the discussions, Mr. Marcel Ciolacu was granted this broad negotiation mandate," announced Romaşcanu.
He specified that the mandate involves negotiations with "absolutely all pro-European and democratic forces in Parliament."
"The mandate also includes the request for participation in the government, considering the score obtained by the PSD and obtaining the position of prime minister," said the PSD spokesperson.
Romaşcanu also pointed out that "the position of prime minister from the PSD does not bear a name at this moment." "Certainly, usually, the position of prime minister of the Social Democratic Party is held by the PSD president. But for now, we are discussing positions, discussing principles, and less about individuals at this moment," he added.
Regarding the possibility of a PNL-PSD candidate for the presidential elections, Lucian Romaşcanu emphasized that "this falls within a broad negotiation mandate of Marcel Ciolacu."
"If you want the colleagues' opinion, it is premature to discuss now what will happen. It is the prerogative of the new government, it could certainly have been that of this government too, but as the president announced, the new government will decide the calendar, and based on that calendar, we will further discuss how we will present ourselves in the presidential elections.
Social Democrats set conditions
The PSD will demand the position of prime minister and participation in the government, but with the condition of respecting five fundamental principles that an eventual coalition in which the Social Democratic Party will participate must accept:
- Maintaining the pace of investments at over 100 billion lei annually.
- Increasing purchasing power through continued reduction of inflation and labor tax reduction, including capping prices for gas, energy, and staple foods.
- Measures that align with the notion of economic patriotism, continuing to support the Romanian private sector, plus maintaining the threshold for small and medium-sized enterprises.
- Industrialization of Romania.
- State reform, starting with a leaner government and continuing with streamlining bureaucracy and so on.
"These are the five points without which the Social Democratic Party will not enter the government," emphasized Romașcanu.
When the new government will be operational and the compromise that PSD accepts
Romaşcanu also stated that the new government will be operational immediately after December 21, mentioning that probably a pro-European party will have to remain in opposition to not leave the entire opposition in the hands of those who call themselves sovereigntists.
About the portfolios desired by the PSD, Lucian Romaşcanu stated that it is premature and has not been discussed.
"First, let's see who forms the government majority, see who will be in opposition, if one of the parties in the pro-European coalition will be in opposition. I'll tell you my personal point of view, it has not been discussed, but I saw that Mr. Nicuşor Dan came out with the same idea a few days ago. Probably a pro-European party will have to remain in opposition, to not leave the entire opposition in the hands of those who call themselves sovereigntists," stated Lucian Romaşcanu.
"There were many colleagues who said without USR, there were colleagues who said with USR, we will see what results from the negotiations that Mr. Ciolacu will conduct together with our team. Romaşcanu also referred to the new structure of the Executive, pointing out that it remains to be discussed how the future architecture will look like," he detailed.
The spokesperson of the Social Democrats also spoke about the measures to restructure the budget apparatus that the PSD would agree with. "Probably a reduction of two to three ministries is very possible at the moment. And the measures of streamlining and flexibility of the state will need to be continued with state-owned companies and so on," he stated.