Pro-European parties eye parliamentary majority to counter far-right surge in Romania
Romania’s mainstream centrist parties, namely the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL), the reformist Union Save Romania (USR), and the party of the ethnic Hungarian minority, UDMR, are set to establish a…
Radu Dumitrescu · Journalist
· Updated · 4 min read
Romania’s mainstream centrist parties, namely the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL), the reformist Union Save Romania (USR), and the party of the ethnic Hungarian minority, UDMR, are set to establish a pro-European majority in Parliament. The deal leaves out far-right parties which surged to about 33% in the recent parliamentary elections and paves the way for a new government.
The deal was announced by current prime minister and PSD leader Marcel Ciolacu and is set to be confirmed on Wednesday, December 4, during a meeting between the leaders of all pro-European parties, along with representatives of the ethnic minorities in the legislative.
Party leaders in Romania have been negotiating a new formula for a governing majority after the December 1 parliamentary elections which saw far-right parties AUR, POT and SOS obtain a combined score of about 33%. The deal is also seen as a counter to the possibility of pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu becoming president.
Ciolacu, who has reportedly been fending offopposition within his party that would see PSD closer to far-right candidateCălin Georgescu, added that this decision will be a "clear and implicit signal" that the party backs USR leaderElena Lasconi in the second round of the presidential elections.
"I believe a document will be signed in this regard. This subject implicitly supports Mrs. Lasconi. A pro-European coalition helps her," the PSD leader said, according to Europa Libera Romania.
He refused, however, to specify whether or not he will remain prime minister in the future government.
"We are sending a clear signal that none of these parties will form an alliance in the future with AUR, POT, or any similar party. I think this is the most important message," Ciolacu added.
The statements come following a meeting between Marcel Ciolacu and Elena Lasconi during which both leaders agreed that Romania’s pro-European path should continue. On Facebook, Ciolacu mentioned that they discussed forming a pro-European parliamentary majority and "solutions for achieving governance that supports these shared values." Nevertheless, PSD refrained from making any official recommendation to voters for December 8 so far.
