VIDEO Dominic Fritz: “PSD is testing options outside the coalition”. The USR leader summoned the party leadership
USR President Dominic Fritz said that the disputes in the budget committees of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate show that the PSD wants to test other options for a parliamentary majority. At the same time, Fritz announced that he will convene the leadership of the USR for Monday, on which occasion a possible PSD request to replace Ilie Bolojan will be discussed.
Asked whether Wednesday's disputes in the budget committees could be used by the Social Democrats to justify leaving the government, Fritz replied:
“It is obvious to everyone that PSD voted with AUR a motion against Diana Buzoianu, to postpone the vote for the People's Advocate and today they tried to vote with AUR a huge increase. It is obvious that PSD is testing options outside the coalition. It is obvious that this blockage is part of a bigger idea by which PSD is looking for other majorities.”
“USR will respect the coalition agreement”
Dominic Fritz announced that he will convene the meeting of the USR Political Committee for Monday, in which it will be discussed, if necessary, including the party's position in relation to a possible PSD request to replace Ilie Bolojan as prime minister.
Fritz said the USR would respect the coalition agreement, including the provision that the PNL has the right to appoint the prime minister.
“There are many voices in the PNL who also know that the story with the PSD key chain and the idea of being the PSD key chain is harmful for the National Liberal Party. But, once again, it is a decision that each party must make. It is very clear to us that we respect this agreement, we do not contribute to other crises beyond the ones that are already in the world and of course we want to move forward with reforms for Romania”, said Fritz.
“The clear desire of PSD to form a coalition with AUR”
“The position of the USR will be defined, I will convene the Political Committee for Monday, where we will analyze how we relate to this obvious desire of the PSD to make a coalition with the AUR,” said Fritz.
On the other hand, the Union leader estimated that the current coalition will continue to resist, even if the PSD amendment on the Solidarity Package was rejected by the committees.
“I don't think this coalition will break, I think it is necessary for everyone to understand that no one has a majority alone. There were many ideas of the USR that were not taken up and we are not breaking our shirts for that. I expect the same attitude from the PSD,” commented the leader of the USR, who invited those from the PSD to clarify whether they still want to be part of the coalition or not.
Dominic Fritz said that the proposals of the social democrats come in a context where the war in Iran can lead to an inflationary situation, and the increase in state spending, proposed by the PSD, will affect Romanians with low incomes
“At a time when all Romanians are worried about rising prices, about the war in the Middle East, PSD chooses to generate an artificial crisis. I understand that PSD tried to test a new majority with AUR today, I understood from the statements of some that they did not understand each other, but this means that there is now no parliamentary will for PSD's proposals (…) The question is how long Romanians have to wait for PSD to accept that there is no majority for their proposals inflationary. (…) We are against it because any increase in the deficit raises prices and hits hard on these people whom the PSD claims it wants to protect”, said Dominic Fritz.
The third day of debates on the state budget was again marked by scandal in Parliament. An amendment of the PSD was rejected in the Budget Committee, after the AUR abstained from voting. And that twice. The Social-Democrats then accused the coalition colleagues, USR and PNL, of “clinging with their teeth to all the legislative bits” in order to refuse the amendment, which provides for the granting of a single aid for pensioners. PNL and USR have repeatedly criticized these amendments, stating that there are no budget revenues for such aid. Controversy followed between PSD and AUR, and between PSD and PNL, and between PSD and USR. And after several episodes with scandal and pauses, it was decided to suspend the works indefinitely, and on Thursday there will be talks in the coalition.
