Romania’s government under no-confidence threat
A no-confidence motion against Romania’s government was read by the Opposition at a session in Parliament on Monday. Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă and cabinet members have failed to attend the event. A decision is expected in two days, shortly before winter holidays at a time when MPs of the governing left-wing Social Democratic Party (PSD) may miss the vote. Howwever, in order to pass the motion, the Opposition needs 233 votes, some 70 more that it currently achieved. The governing PSD and ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, the junior party in the governing coalition) have delayed until after 2021 all the commitments made during elections in 2016, the Opposition claimed, while the government of Ms. Dăncilă was a threat to Romania’s national interests and economic stability.
Romanian president could attend cabinet meetings. But…
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis could attend meetings of the country’s cabinet without interfering with its agenda. The statement belongs to Florin Iodache, a leading MP of the governing Social-Democrats and a former justice minister, who told the Digi24 TV on Tuesday that the president was rather supposed to give a green light to the country’s draft budget instead of blocking it. On Monday, President Klaus Iohannis asked Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă to send him details of her cabinet’s agenda 24 hours before government meeting. In disregard with street protests and EU warnings, Romania’s ruling party, the left-wing PSD, pushed for its controversial agenda. Party leader Liviu Dragnea went further by backing people targeted in corruption probes.
Romania’s president expected to attend government meetings
While in the Austrian capital Vienna at a European forum on Tuesday, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said he would attend his country’s cabinet meetings as he perceived a „willingness of co-operation” from Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă. Romania would make a „big mistake by issuing an order concerning the amnesty and pardon (of people under corruption charges, ed. n.)”, the president said while pointing put he did not give up the idea of a referendum on judicial issues. A procedure on the matter was already launched in January 2017 and the move was approved in parliament. However, the president is still expected to establish a date.
Alexandru Danga, RADOR
