Romania: parliament votes today on Luca Niculescu's government
After more than five months of political crisis, diplomat Niculescu's cabinet appears to have a majority. It needs 233 votes; the Social Democrats hold 11 ministries.
Archive image · Photo: anisoboy / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Romania's parliament holds a confidence vote today (Tuesday) on the government of Prime Minister-designate Luca Niculescu. It needs 233 votes, and according to Universul.net the cabinet could count on up to 279. The Social Democrats (PSD), parliament's largest party, are joining the government with 11 ministers. Technocrats are to take the finance, energy and foreign affairs portfolios. Niculescu, 55, is a diplomat and former journalist; he is President Nicușor Dan's fourth attempt to install a government.
The Liberals (PNL) remain in opposition but plan to back the cabinet with a "vote of necessity". "Romania needs a functioning government to avoid the collapse of basic public institutions and services," said Liberal leader and acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. His four-party government collapsed in May after the PSD joined the far-right opposition in filing a no-confidence motion.
The PSD has set conditions: a 2027 budget plan by 1 December and no further tax increases. Party leader Sorin Grindeanu said it would assess the government after six months. The crisis pushed the leu to record lows. Romania has agreed with Brussels to cut its deficit below 3% of GDP by 2030; this year it is expected at 6.2%, according to Reuters.