The first reactions have emerged after President Nicușor Dan designated Luca Niculescu as prime minister on Monday evening.
Currently, opinions are divided. PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu criticized the nomination, stating that the head of state did not take into account the party that won the elections. However, he mentioned that social democrats will analyze the proposal on Tuesday during a meeting of the National Permanent Bureau.
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PNL, through its spokesperson Ionel Bogdan, stated that the party will discuss with the designated prime minister, analyze the government program, the assumed priorities, and the team it will propose, after which a decision will be made regarding the investiture vote.
USR leader Dominic Fritz also mentioned that his party will analyze the government program, the team of ministers, and the majority supporting Luca Niculescu, and then make a decision.
One thing is clear, according to Fritz: "USR will not support a government with PSD ministers or controlled by PSD."
UDMR parliamentarians could vote for Luca Niculescu as prime minister, with the only "red line" being that they will not negotiate with AUR and SOS Romania to form a majority.
AUR leader George Simion was categorical: "Luca Niculescu is still a puppet. Zero votes from AUR! Freedom for Călin Georgescu," Simion conveyed.
Even the Party S.O.S. Romania will not vote for the Government proposed by Luca Niculescu. The party's president, Diana Şoşoacă, accuses the designated prime minister of being "the agent of France's interests" and "the solution of banking loan sharks who take the skin off Romanians."
Grindeanu: The new nomination continues to defy parliamentary mathematics
PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu said that the new nomination for prime minister does not take into account the configuration of Parliament and announced that social democrats will analyze the proposal on Tuesday during a meeting of the National Permanent Bureau.
"The new nomination for prime minister by the president continues to defy parliamentary mathematics. After 4 failed right-wing prime ministers, we see a new designation that does not take into account the party that won the elections. It is the president's choice," Sorin Grindeanu posted on Facebook.
The PSD leader stated that Romania urgently needs a government to take measures to change the economic direction, to make a budget adjustment, and to prepare the budget for 2027.
At the same time, he warned that PSD will not support a new government formula without knowing the program and measures proposed by the designated prime minister.
"PSD will not participate and will not give blank votes for a construction that means a new political adventure. The designated prime minister must publicly state how he wants the government to look and what are the main measures he has in mind for the economic recovery and protecting people's purchasing power, while maintaining deficit targets.
Otherwise, if the designated prime minister continues to support Bolojan's austerity policies, I believe there is no other way to put Romania back on the right track than to go for early elections," Grindeanu conveyed.
PNL will decide after discussions with the designated prime minister
PNL spokesperson Ionel Bogdan stated that the party will discuss with the designated prime minister, analyze the government program, the assumed priorities, and the team it will propose, after which a decision will be made regarding the investiture vote.
"The National Liberal Party acknowledges the decision of the President of Romania regarding the designation of Mr. Luca Niculescu as a candidate for the position of prime minister.
In the following period, we will have discussions with the designated prime minister and analyze the government program, the assumed priorities, and the team it will propose. After the discussions and the analysis of the government program, PNL will make a decision regarding the investiture vote," Ionel Bogdan wrote on Facebook.
USR, same position as PNL
Similarly, USR leader Dominic Fritz stated that his party will analyze the government program, the team of ministers, and the majority supporting Luca Niculescu, and then make a decision.
"USR has taken note of the designation of Luca Niculescu for the position of prime minister. He is a respected diplomat, renowned for the professional execution of the missions entrusted to him, such as Romania's accession process to the OECD.
USR will analyze the program, the team of ministers, and the majority supporting him. We will discuss with the designated prime minister how he wants to ensure that the government can deliver results as the USR ministers have. The decision will be made within the party's statutory bodies," Dominic Fritz conveyed on Facebook.
One thing is clear, according to Fritz: "USR will not support a government with PSD ministers or controlled by PSD. Nor will it vote for a prime minister used as a cover for PSD's return to power. A prime minister dependent on orders from PSD cannot be 'independent.' Romania urgently needs a government. But it needs one that will get the country out of crisis, not bring back those who caused it to power."
UDMR would vote for him. What is the red line
UDMR parliamentarians could vote for Luca Niculescu as prime minister, with the only "red line" being that they will not negotiate with AUR and SOS Romania to form a majority, stated Csoma Botond, leader of the Union's deputies and spokesperson for the party, on Monday evening to Agerpres.
"Luca Niculescu is a career diplomat, a serious person. We can vote for Mr. Luca Niculescu. Let's see how this majority can be formed and let's see what government program Mr. Luca Niculescu would like to pursue at the investiture. Our only 'red line' is not having to engage in political negotiations to form a majority with AUR or S.O.S. If we can avoid this situation, of course, we could vote for a government led by Luca Niculescu," Csoma Botond specified.
According to the leader of UDMR deputies, "there would be no problem" in maintaining the majority from the old governing coalition.
Simion: Luca Niculescu is still a puppet. Zero votes from AUR
AUR President George Simion stated that the designated prime minister, Luca Niculescu, is "still a puppet," so he will receive "zero votes from AUR."
"Luca Niculescu is still a puppet. Zero votes from AUR! Freedom for Călin Georgescu," was the message posted on Facebook on Monday evening by George Simion.
Furthermore, AUR leader Petrişor Peiu stated that the party's members will not even go to the vote. Peiu is convinced that Niculescu's proposed executive will not pass Parliament's vote.
Şoşoacă says that Luca Niculescu is "the agent of France": Let the French give us back the water
Even the Party S.O.S. Romania will not vote for the Government proposed by Luca Niculescu, announced the party's president, Diana Şoşoacă.
She accuses the designated prime minister of being "the agent of France's interests" and "the solution of banking loan sharks who take the skin off Romanians."
"The Party S.O.S. Romania announces that its members will not grant the vote of investiture to a Government led by Luca Niculescu, designated prime minister by Nicuşor Dan, who illegitimately and unconstitutionally holds the position of President of Romania. Luca Niculescu is the 'solution' of banking loan sharks who take the skin off Romanians. We change Tanda for Manda. The agent of Germany's interests leaves and the agent of France's interests comes. No, thank you! Let the French give us back the water!
Romania needs a Government that addresses the serious problems faced by citizens, a government program built in the national interest, and concrete solutions for the economy, the standard of living, and protecting the interests of the Romanian state. Appointing a new prime minister to continue the current power structure does not solve the fundamental problem of legitimacy and does not respond to the political and economic crisis," Şoşoacă wrote on her Facebook page.