Negotiations for the formation of a government have not taken place

The scheduled consultations between the appointed prime minister Dacian Ciolos and the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the The Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) did not take place. The PNL leader, Florin Citu, declared that he no longer sees the point of such a discussion. However, the Save Romania Union (USR) is still waiting for the Liberals to come to negotiations until Sunday, after which Dacian Ciolos will go to parliament anyway with a government team proposal.

The Liberals believe that USR must negotiate with the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Alliance Party for the Union of Romanians (AUR) the formation of the majority needed for the government's investment. According to the PNL president, Florin Citu, the liberals have only one option: to form a parliamentary majority around the party they lead.

"PNL asks Dacian Ciolos and USR to first discuss with the two parties with which it managed to form a majority on the PSD and AUR motion, in order to find the 234 votes necessary for the government's inauguration. If the appointed prime minister, Dacian Ciolos, will not succeed after the talks to coagulate the majority for the government's investment, PNL will start negotiations with all the leaders of the responsible political parties, excluding AUR, in order to find the best solutions for Romanians", said Florin Citu.

USR gave the Liberals until Sunday to come to negotiations in order to form a cabinet led by Dacian Ciolos. Otherwise, the USR leader will go to parliament next week with a government team proposal and a governing program.

"I remain determined to propose a government in parliament until the beginning of next week, because there it will be seen whether or not there is support or not for such a thing. Until Sunday, if PNL is still interested in discussions, they know where to find us. Anyway, we are moving forward and we will make a proposal in parliament, no matter what happens", said Prime Minister-designate Dacian Ciolos.

UDMR is of the opinion that a government should be formed as soon as possible. The leader of the Union, Kelemen Hunor, stated that the appointed prime minister Dacian Ciolos has three options: to give up the mandate, to form a new PSD-USR-AUR government or to ask the parliament for support for a monochromatic government.

USR announced that it will submit the governing program and the list of ministers to the parliament on Monday. The decision was taken by the party's National Bureau, which met yesterday afternoon at the request of Prime Minister-designate Dacian Ciolos. The press release states that the governing program will be finalized today and will be approved on Sunday in the USR leadership forums.

Translated by: Radu Matei