Ilie Bolojan, reaction to Grindeanu's attacks: “PSD comes with an AUR-type rhetoric / It delimits itself from the government's responsibility”

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan stated, on Sunday evening, on Digi24, that the PSD announcement related to the amendments to the budget regarding the solidarity package represents an attempt by the social democrats not to assume the responsibility of the government, through “AUR-type rhetoric”.

Ilie Bolojan said that it would not be a problem to adopt some amendments to the draft budget, as long as they are “in reasonable terms”, but he showed that the room for maneuver is very small.

“Our problem is that this budget was penciled in at a time when we didn't have a war in the Middle East, an increase in fuel prices, turbulence in the interest market, which may lead to an increase in inflation, of 0.5-1%, additional interest costs if things do not calm down. Any proposal for additional spending should be treated with caution,” Bolojan said.

PSD accusations, appreciated as “lies”

The decision taken on Sunday by the PSD leadership is considered by liberals as “a political action”, given that the subject of social measures has been repeatedly discussed in the coalition, and the PSD has not given an answer regarding the source of funding.

“Through this game of amendments, the PSD is trying to come up with an AUR-type rhetoric, somehow trying to distance itself from the government's responsibility. I don't think it's a solution that will bring results. Trying to copy a certain rhetoric, I don't think you solve things,” said Ilie Bolojan

He stated that PSD's “political game” is a populist one that gives false hopes to the people.

“We didn't know what situation the country is in when we made this government? There were some social costs of the measures, but you can't say that there are magic solutions. We don't work more, we don't save more and we will be better off – this is not sustainable”, commented the head of the Government.

Bolojan even categorized PSD's accusations as “lies”, giving the example of the reduction of the turnover tax of large companies which, according to the prime minister, led to the reduction of foreign investments and the taxation of companies, regardless of whether they were profitable or not.

PSD accuses the prime minister of “deliberate impoverishment” of the population

Following the meeting of the PSD National Political Council, the leader of the social democrats Sorin Grindeanu sent a letter to Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan in which he informs him that his party will not give up the amendments to the 2026 budget by which the proposed solidarity package will receive full funding from the state budget.

“We will submit amendments in Parliament to ensure the full financing of the Solidarity Package, i.e. the support for 3.5 million families – pensioners with low incomes, disabled children, mothers or veterans, who suffer the most from the austerity measures of the last year”, Grindeanu announced, adding that this is the “firm” mandate received from the party leadership.

The social democrat blames Bolojan for taking measures that favored multinational companies, at the expense of ordinary Romanians.

“I can no longer witness the deliberate impoverishment of millions of Romanians and I can no longer maintain an attitude of permanent defiance towards the PSD, the party that ensures the stability of the Coalition with a 46% share of the current government,” the PSD president claims.

The PNL demands compliance with the coalition agreement

Shortly after the PSD leaders met, the PNL warned the social democrats, through a press release, not to support budget amendments that would involve an increase in spending without first being discussed in the coalition.

Liberals recall the constraints related to the reduction of the budget deficit and claim that the 6.2% target will make Romania credible in front of creditors and European partners.

“Given that we are experiencing major disruptions in the fuel and financial markets as a result of the conflict in the Middle East, which can lead to increased inflation and reduced economic growth, prudence and responsibility should guide us all”, is another argument invoked by the PNL.

The Liberals also mention Article 19 of the coalition's political agreement which stipulates that “no initiative or vote involving increases in budget spending can take place without the prior approval of the Coalition leadership.”

USR parliamentarians will not submit amendments to the budget

USR claims that PSD's announcement regarding the support of substantial amendments to the budget is “irresponsibility”.

“The fact that the PSD openly flirts with a majority with the extremists in order to pass them shows that they do not care about Romanians worried about the increase in prices. The political instability that such a move can trigger will primarily hit the people whom the PSD claims to want to protect”, according to a USR statement.

The party announces that it will not agree to new tax increases for citizens, but it will also not support the increase in state spending, so USR will not have amendments to the draft budget.

“USR will not submit or vote on amendments to the State Budget Law for the year 2026. We ask everyone in the governing coalition to keep their word given in the contract we signed less than a year ago,” the quoted source added.