The hearings of the proposed ministers for the Mureșan Government concluded on Tuesday evening with a perfectly balanced outcome: eight received a favorable opinion, and eight received a negative opinion.
The last one to be heard was Diana Buzoianu, proposed for the Ministry of Environment, who barely passed the committees’ vote with 21 „for” and 20 „against.”
However, the opinions are consultative, and the decisive test for the Mureșan Cabinet comes on Wednesday. Starting at 1:00 PM, Parliament will convene for the investiture vote.
The government needs 233 votes to pass. Siegfried Mureșan stated that at this moment, they are counting on approximately 200 confirmed votes, considering that PSD and AUR have announced they will not support the Cabinet.
There isn't much optimism within the proposed team either. Cseke Attila, who received a favorable opinion on Tuesday for the Ministry of Development, said that if the parties vote as announced, the Mureșan Government "cannot be invested."
Spotmedia presented, in LIVE TEXT format, how the hearings of the proposed ministers in the Mureșan Government unfolded:
20.45 - Summary of the hearings on Monday and Tuesday: 8 positive opinions and 8 negative opinions.
Positive opinions:
- Tanczos Barna – Agriculture
- Alexandru Nazare – Finance
- Mircea Abrudean – Internal Affairs
- Dragoș Pîslaru – Investments and European Projects
- Oana Țoiu – Foreign Affairs
- Cseke Attila – Development
- Ötvös Koppány Bulcsú – Culture
- Diana Buzoianu – Environment
Negative opinions:
- Sebastian Burduja – Energy
- Radu Miruță – Defense
- Cătălin Drulă – Transport
- Irineu Darău – Economy
- Raluca Turcan – Labor
- Oana Gheorghiu – Health
- Andrea Chiș – Justice
- Mihai Dimian – Education
20.38 - Diana Buzoianu, the nominee for the Ministry of Environment, received a favorable opinion, by a narrow margin - 21 "for" and 20 "against" votes.
20.00 - The hearing for Diana Buzoianu was extended.
19.00 - Cseke Attila, proposed as Minister of Development, received a favorable opinion - 23 "for," two "against," and 15 abstentions. At the end of the hearings, he expressed doubt about the chances of the proposed Cabinet. "I believe that it will not be invested (the Mureșan Government - ed.). If tomorrow's vote reflects what parliamentary groups have stated so far, it appears that this government cannot be invested. Of course, Mr. President Dan can nominate a new designated prime minister, and that nomination will be discussed," said Cseke Attila.
18.10 - Mihai Dimian, proposed for the position of Minister of Education, received a negative opinion - 23 "for," 19 "against," and six abstentions.
16.50 - Bulcsú Koppány Ötvös (UDMR) received a favorable opinion to become Minister of Culture - 13 votes for, 7 abstentions, and one vote against.
16.43 - Andrea Chiș received an unfavorable opinion for Justice. 65 parliamentarians voted against, and 42 voted for.
15:45 - Judge Andrea Chiș, proposed for the Ministry of Justice, was asked about her special pension. Her response: "My pension is currently 40,000 lei. I did not set it. Regarding its amount, my colleagues and you know from the public space that I have argued that the pension should not exceed the salary."
15.22 - Oana Țoiu, current minister and nominee for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received a favorable opinion in the committees, with 29 votes for and 23 against. She is the only one among the USR proposals who received a favorable opinion, after Cătălin Drulă (Transport), Radu Miruță (Defense), and Irineu Darău (Economy) obtained negative opinions yesterday.
14.10 - Oana Gheorghiu, proposed for the Ministry of Health, received a negative opinion, with 15 votes for and 17 against
13.21 - Raluca Turcan, proposed for the Ministry of Labor, received a negative opinion in the specialized committees. There were 34 votes for, 39 against, and one abstention. A deputy and vice president of PNL, Turcan previously held this position.
During the hearing, the session president, Adrian Solomon (PSD), cut off Raluca Turcan's microphone, stating that she exceeded the time allotted for presenting her priorities while discussing special pensions.
12.05 - Dragoș Pîslaru (PNL), proposed Minister of Investments and European Projects, received a positive opinion, with 18 votes for, 13 against, and one abstention.
11.09 - Mircea Abrudean (PNL), proposed Minister of Internal Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, received a positive opinion, with 22 votes for and 8 abstentions.
10.34 - Vice President of USR Radu Mihaiu says that some PSD parliamentarians might vote to invest in the Mureșan Government, even though the party has stated it does not support the new Executive. "I think it has good chances of being invested, especially since Romania needs a stable government at this moment. (...) Currently, Romania needs a government, a budget adjustment, a budget proposal, and that's why I believe there will be parliamentarians, including from PSD, who will vote for this government," Radu Mihaiu stated on RFI Romania.
09.45 - "Without the PSD vote, this government cannot pass" - Valeriu Iftime, President of the PNL branch in Botoșani, believes that designated Prime Minister Siegfried Mureșan and PNL must stop attacking PSD and convince the party to vote for this government. "Parliamentary math clearly shows that stability can only be ensured through a realistic support agreement between PNL and PSD, in the current formula, but also in the configuration that would result from early elections. Political tensions must be overcome, and decisions must be made with maturity, in the country's interest. (...) My opinion is that the designated Prime Minister and PNL have a duty to negotiate maturely and wisely, to stop the attacks on partners, and to convince PSD to vote for this Government. Without the PSD vote, this Government cannot pass," wrote Valeriu Iftime on Facebook on Tuesday.
09.30 - Mureșan, a new attack on Grindeanu - Designated Prime Minister Siegfried Mureșan launched a new attack on PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu before the second round of hearings for the proposed ministers. Mureșan wrote on Facebook in the morning that if Grindeanu comes to power, he "will not hesitate to issue a new pro-theft ordinance." "If he comes to power, he will not hesitate to issue a new pro-theft ordinance and govern against the people if he knows that the people will not take to the streets and protest. That's why this party is dangerous, and that's why PSD should not decide the future of our country and the honest people in our country," Siegfried Mureșan said.
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On how many votes the Mureșan Government relies
Designated Prime Minister Siegfried Mureșan stated on Monday evening that he has "around 200 confirmed votes" for the investiture of the Government, having discussions with minorities, but also "with unaffiliated parliamentarians, with smaller parliamentary groups."
In this context, the key lies with PSD, so Mureșan will attempt to have a discussion with Sorin Grindeanu on Tuesday.
"Yes, the key to resolving the political crisis and for our country to have a government is indeed with PSD. I have included elements requested by them in the government program. I am entirely available for dialogue and have conveyed this to President Grindeanu. So, if he wishes to discuss the government program, the governance period, parliamentary cooperation, we can do that whenever he wants," the designated Prime Minister said on Monday evening on TVR 1.
Siegfried Mureșan specified that he will not go to the PSD headquarters, but at the Parliament, he is willing to discuss with Sorin Grindeanu, even though they have not managed to meet so far.