“Either early elections, or PSD goes into opposition.” Sorin Grindeanu's reaction if Ilie Bolojan refuses to resign
Sorin Grindeanu reacted, on Tuesday, April 21, in the context of the tensions in the coalition and the negotiations for the formation of a new political majority, before the consultations at the Cotroceni Palace, with the president Nicușor Dan.
The social democratic leader emphasized that the party's decision is a firm one and that maintaining the PSD in a coalition depends on the change in the prime minister's proposal.
“This does not depend only on us, it also depends on the good will of the other partners in this former governing coalition, I mean the PNL, the USR, the UDMR, even the group of national minorities. I can speak on behalf of the PSD. I cannot allow myself to give lessons to the others. I tried throughout this period to respect the points of view of the other parties that signed this protocol, I did not bother to say which way they should go either The PNL, nor the USR. We appealed to their lordships to do the same, to respect us, and we appealed to decency.”said Sorin Grindeanu, at Radio Romania Actualitătă.
He added that PSD's internal vote completely changes the party's position in the negotiations: “Our vote yesterday was a clear one, one without doubts, and then we are in the following situation: to answer you, if the Social Democratic Party wants to be part of a governing coalition with pro-European parties, then we no longer support Ilie Bolojan as prime minister. And there are many reasons, if you want to go into detail. So, either another solution, or the Social Democratic Party goes into opposition.”
Grindeanu stated that the social democrats are aware that other poles of power can be formed in the Parliament.
“We decide for ourselves and we decided yesterday that we no longer support Ilie Bolojan. There are majorities in the Romanian Parliament even without the Social Democratic Party. We have, if we also take the redistribution, somewhere around 27-28% of the number of MPs. That's what the PSD has. If they still want us in this coalition and there is a majority where PSD also wants to be, we have this condition. If not, they are free to make other majorities”. the PSD leader also said.
The PSD leader also explained what can happen in the event of the withdrawal of social democratic ministers from the Executive.
“A minority government can remain even after the PSD ministers withdraw from the government. From Thursday onwards, or first of all, the first step is tomorrow, which you announced, namely the consultations in Cotroceni. I welcome this stage, it is a necessary step. Following these consultations in Cotroceni, a first picture will probably be reached”, said Grindeanu.
He also detailed the constitutional procedure in case a stable majority is not reached: “After which, if a solution is reached or not found that is accepted by these parties, then the Social Democratic Party, as announced, will withdraw its representatives from the government. Which means that we have a government that no longer has a majority in Parliament, which translates into a minority government.”
Sorin Grindeanu emphasized that such a scenario would not be a first in Romanian politics.
“But it is more than a government or… it has ministers who will occupy several portfolios according to the Constitution. It is not the first time that this would happen. In 45 days, as it was in the past, and not once, but several times, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, if he does not resign and there is no motion of censure in this interval to be passed through Parliament, this new coalition that is without PSD… if that coalition or that government formula will have the majority, the government will continue. If not, the government is considered to have fallen.” he said.
Political earthquake at the top. Bolojan condemns PSD's “irresponsible” decision: “I will continue to exercise the mandate of prime minister”
The PSD leader also explained what a minority government means in practice: “What I was saying about a minority government is when you come, you don't have a clear majority in Parliament, but you try to get a government through specific agreements, not having the support, as I said, of the majority represented by the people in the government.”
Sorin Grindeanu also stated that the submission of a censure motion by the PSD is one of the options considered.
“The motion is a variant or we will vote on a censure motion that someone else will submit. (…) I saw that AUR is submitting”said the PSD leader.
Asked if PSD could vote on the censure motion submitted by AUR, Sorin Grindeanu stated: “It is one of the options, and this is because the mandate received from colleagues is this: the withdrawal of political support for the prime minister, so Ilie Bolojan must go home.”
Regarding early elections, Grindeanu said that “you can never rule this out, but in constitutional Romania it is difficult to reach early elections”.
PSD leaves the government with an overwhelming vote of the delegates
PSD decided on Monday evening, April 20, to leave the government, after 97.7% of the party's delegates voted for the withdrawal of the ministers from the Government led by Ilie Bolojan. Only 2.3% spoke against it, in the internal consultation in which 4,949 social democrats participated.
The PSD president, Sorin Grindeanu, announced that the party will not support the formation of a parliamentary majority alongside formations considered anti-European or extremist.
“We want to be part of a pro-European coalition. If that is not possible, then we will go into opposition”said Grindeanu.
He stated that the result of the internal vote is clear and leaves no room for interpretation.
“We will not continue with Bolojan, this was the vote that my colleagues and I gave in this internal referendum. When the percentage is over 97%, I don't think there is any more room for interpretation”, added the social democratic leader.
At the same time, Grindeanu also announced that he will go to the consultations at the Cotroceni Palace with the mandate received from the party, emphasizing that the next step is the withdrawal of the PSD ministers from the Executive.
