Official and informal discussions between President Nicușor Dan and the leaders of the Social Democrat Party PSD, the National Liberal Party PNL, the Save Romanian Union USR, and the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania UDMR regarding the formation of a new executive will resume next week, according to sources familiar with the negotiations consulted by Economedia.

The plan seems to be the same sketched at the end of April, when PSD expected Liberals to abandon their leader Ilie Bolojan, left without the prime ministership, and return as partners in a coalition with a rather low reformist profile.

While the Social Democrats have been vocal against the “austerity” policies of PM Ilie Bolojan, they have not disclosed their own budgetary strategies. Wage and pension increases, signalled by PSD, are expected next year irrespective of the next government’s colour. But it is the PSD's less public resistance to reforms among the state companies and public administration that remains the main risk posed by a PSD-dominated executive.

The calendar currently being discussed for the new government would allow the inauguration of the new executive in the first week of September, according to the sources, while the structure of the new ruling coalition remains unclear.

Separately, the Social Democrats are working on building a parliamentary majority together with UDMR and the representatives in Parliament of the national minorities, also backed by parliamentarians pulled out of the far-right parties and PNL parliamentarians favourable to cooperation with PSD.

Calculations made by the Social Democrats indicate a majority of approximately 240 votes, sufficient to invest the government even without the official support of PNL, USR or AUR, claim the cited sources. The logic behind such a strategy remains overthrowing Ilie Bolojan from the leadership of PNL and subordinating it to its decade-long partner. Gaining the support of the MPs who pulled out from the far right would be a short-term compromise, and this controversial segment of the would-be coalition would receive only lower-level positions in the public administration.

According to the scenarios sketched by PSD, there are two alternatives for the position of prime minister.

The first option is a political prime minister, represented by the PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu. The second is the appointment of an independent prime minister. One of the names being circulated is that of the interim Minister of Finance, Alexandru Nazare, but sources say it could also be another person without political affiliation.

According to sources, PSD is willing to support the candidate who has the best chance of securing support from a parliamentary majority.

However, UDMR would prefer a government led by an independent prime minister, a formula in which liberal parliamentarians who would break away from the current PNL leadership could also participate.

(Photo: Cateyeperspective/ Dreamstime)

iulian@romania-insider.com