George Simion emerged from Cotroceni and emphasized that AUR’s position is unwavering: they will not vote for any government they are not a part of.
” We do not sell ourselves, we will not respond to any pressure to give in. The millions of Romanians who trust us must be represented in the leadership structures of Romania. It’s like living in a bad movie, it’s like we’re in Groundhog Day, these consultations repeat every time and no one understands what’s happening. It’s the first time Romania is in this crisis and I think you realize for yourselves who is to blame.”
For George Simion, the main culprit of the crisis is the president: "It's been almost 3 months since Nicușor Dan has kept the country in a deadlock. He is to blame for this political situation, for the nomination he will make which will be a disaster. He is to blame for keeping AUR away from governance. AUR assumes governance and has repeatedly taken on this responsibility. This is the third consultation we attend."
He insists that a new government cannot be formed without AUR:
"It's impossible without AUR. It's time for him (Nicușor Dan - ed.), Sorin Grindeanu, and others to stop demonizing our party because it has millions of votes behind it."
Simion also stated that a government needs to be "voted as soon as possible," and if this does not happen, then it will lead to "the vote of the Romanians."
"No stable majority can be formed at this moment. There is a need for a ground zero, for a new beginning, AUR is part of the dialogue and will be part of the solution."
Asked about the possibility of a formula similar to the one applied in Sweden, where a (extremist) party supports a government in Parliament without formally entering the Executive, Simion said that AUR can only vote for a government it is part of, with ministers and a prime minister agreed upon by the party.
"Next question"
Simion was repeatedly asked if he had met with the President of Romania at Vila Lac. "Next question, please," was his first reaction. Then, he explained: "I said at the time, some have labeled my statements as lies. The country is in a difficult situation, I stand by my statements. I am not a liar, and we do not betray our electorate. I appeal to you not to demonize an important part of Romanian society."
Simion also wanted to talk about part-time contracts. The AUR leader pointed out that yesterday in Parliament, a vote was supposed to take place on a tax reduction for part-time contracts, but PNL (the initiator) and PSD removed the law from the agenda.
"Yesterday in the Romanian Parliament, a vote was supposed to take place to tax part-time contracts correctly. This could not be done. PNL, which initiated the law, together with PSD, withdrew this law. There are many Romanians affected by these part-time contracts. You don't save much, but you let Romanians work."
President Nicușor Dan started a new round of consultations with parties and parliamentary groups at the Cotroceni Palace on Thursday morning to designate a candidate for the position of prime minister. The discussions come after four months of political crisis and two failed attempts to form a government.
The AUR delegation includes the party president, George Simion, Petrișor Peiu, and Dan Dungaciu.