The leaders of the Romanian coalition parties signed the protocol for the establishment of the new parliamentary majority on Monday morning.
"Facing economic, geopolitical, and social challenges, this partnership aims at implementing fundamental structural reforms, governance stability and performance, Romania's development, and democracy consolidation," as stated in this political agreement cited by News.ro.
The coalition aims to restore budgetary balances, prioritize and continue investments, ensure a predictable climate for the business environment, maintaining social cohesion and solidarity, but this agreement does not detail the agreed economic measures.
Rotating
The main provision of this agreement is the rotation of prime ministers:
- For the period June 2025 - April 2027, the candidate for the position of prime minister, supported by the coalition, will be designated by PNL.
- For the period April 2027 - December 2028, the candidate for the position of prime minister, supported by the coalition, will be designated by PSD.
In addition, a government composed of: prime minister, 16 ministries, including 6 PSD ministries, 4 PNL ministries, 4 USR ministries, and 2 UDMR ministries, has been agreed upon.
The government has 3 non-portfolio deputy prime minister roles, one each for PSD and UDMR, and an independent one, two deputy prime minister roles with portfolios, one each for PNL and USR.
After the rotation, a non-portfolio deputy prime minister position will be allocated to PNL, and a deputy prime minister with a portfolio will be allocated to PSD.
The protocol also stipulates that PSD will appoint the President of the Chamber of Deputies and PNL the President of the Senate.
How much power does Bolojan have
Article 15 of the agreement states that "the coalition's decisions are mandatory for all persons supported in public offices by it. The revocation of these persons can take place after an evaluation and with prior and reasoned information to the political party that made the proposal." This provision seems intended to reduce the decision-making power of the prime minister and comes after Prime Minister Cîțu's conflict with some ministers, which led to the dismissal of two of them and USR's exit from the government in 2021.
However, in the case of a government reshuffle or in the cases provided by law where a member of the government cannot exercise the duties of the office, the nomination falls back to the political party that initially held the position. However, the prime minister has the right to refuse the nomination with reasons and request a new proposal.
Moreover, it is mandatory for parliamentarians to support the Government. Article 19 specifies: "No parliamentarian, member of the parties and political formations that are part of the coalition, will sign, support, or vote a simple motion against any member of the Government or a vote of no confidence against the Government. A bill or amendment presupposing expenditure increases, facilities, bonuses, hirings, acquisitions will not be initiated or voted without the prior agreement of the coalition leadership."
7 operating principles
The coalition agreement has 7 operating principles:
- 1) The Coalition's activity is based on good collaboration, transparency, and accountability.
- 2) The Coalition will support a governance program based on clear and collectively assumed priorities.
- 3) Romania's pro-European and Euro-Atlantic path are fundamental elements of the programs and policies promoted by the Coalition and its representatives.
- 4) Member political parties of the Coalition commit to pursue a moderate and balanced policy by aligning with common objectives, despite ideological differences.
- 5) The Coalition will ensure decision-making transparency and unified communication to gain the trust of citizens and international partners in the governance process.
- 6) Meritocracy and professionalism will be promoted in the administration, beyond political affiliation.
- 7) Every major political decision is adopted through political consensus, with the direct involvement of all Coalition component political parties and the prime minister.
34 directions
To implement the governance program, the coalition will support the following directions:
- 1) Urgent adoption of a credible plan to reduce the budget deficit;
- 2) Combating budget waste by restructuring state-owned companies, reducing administrative expenses, and limiting unjustified benefits;
- 3) Tax system reform by eliminating exceptions and increasing collection efficiency;
- 4) Prioritizing investments in major infrastructure projects, as well as for local communities to ensure the necessary resources realistically and efficiently;
- 5) Special pension reform;
- 6) Setting measurable and evaluable objectives for each ministry and agency;
- 7) Consolidating redundant institutions and reducing bureaucracy;
- 8) Accelerating the absorption of European funds through public management reforms;
- 9) Introducing an institutional culture based on responsibility, professionalism, and results;
- 10) Modernizing public services to meet citizens' real needs;
- 11) Eliminating undeserved privileges and ensuring equal treatment under the law;
- 12) Energy independence in natural gas and accelerating the transition to renewable energy;
- 13) Joining the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development;
- 14) Efficiency and performance in Education. European teaching standards at the European level, scholarships tailored to real possibilities, and improving school performance;
- 15) Broadening the contributors' base to the National Health Insurance Fund and offering improved health services while efficiently spending available funds;
- 16) Administration reform through digitalization and interconnecting public services and implementing efficiency, simplification, deregulation criteria;
- 17) Decentralization and increasing the efficiency of local public administration, according to the subsidiarity principle;
- 18) Digitalization and improving consular services and expanding itinerant consulate networks;
- 19) Improving the quality and efficiency of the justice system and citizens' trust in it;
- 20) Achieving milestones and accessing European funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan;
- 21) Completing the fast road link between the Black Sea and Central Europe and the first mountain highway crossing the Carpathian Mountains;
- 22) Strengthening the Transatlantic partnership and other strategic partnerships;
- 23) Implementing the provisions of the Romanian Army 2040 Program and the multi-annual plan for equipping the Romanian Army;
- 24) Combating Criminal activities, especially regarding drug and human trafficking, along with rehabilitation and victim protection programs;
- 25) Combating extremism, antisemitism, xenophobia, radicalization, violence against women, and hate speech to ensure citizens' safety;
- 26) Promoting and supporting programs, projects, and legislation that enable the preservation of the identity and development of minority communities;
- 27) Recognizing and supporting the Romanian Diaspora as an essential part of the national identity and leveraging its human, economic, and cultural potential through active recognition and voluntary return policies;
- 28) Encouraging natality and supporting families with children;
- 29) Supporting economic measures to reduce the trade deficit;
- 30) Supporting sports as an essential domain for a healthy life, encouraging mass sports and performance sports;
- 31) Stimulating the economy and reducing territorial inequalities;
- 32) Honest partnership with the private sector for developing a healthy economy based on private initiative, innovation, and respect for honest work, protecting employee dignity, and promoting legal employment;
- 33) Reforming environmental control and regulatory authorities. Increasing the quality of life in all cities and villages through control mechanisms and developing green infrastructure;
- 34) Supporting the Republic of Moldova for accelerating and maintaining the European path and consolidating democratic values, as well as its economic, social, and cultural strengthening, towards integration into the European Union. As part of this process, we consider important infrastructure development, reducing border crossing times, and streamlining access to Romanian citizenship.
The Coalition's legislative objectives consist of promoting the necessary legislation for implementing the governance program.