Romanian Govt. challenges opposition’s no-confidence motion at Constitutional Court

The Social Democratic Party (PSD), the main opposition party in Romania, presented its no-confidence motion against the Liberal Government in the Parliament, in an extraordinary session, on Thursday, August 20.

The schedule for the debate and the vote on the motion hasn’t been set yet. According to the Constitution, the vote on the motion should take place three days after the presentation in the Parliament.

The Social Democrats accuse the Liberals of breaking the rules they set themselves to limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, News.ro reported.

“They violated all the rules they imposed on the citizens! They disregarded all the recommendations of the epidemiologists! They behaved as if they were above the law and the coronavirus! They defied an entire people whom they forced to obey rules and restrictions, which they themselves trampled on without any embarrassment!” reads the no-confidence motion that has 23 pages.

The Social Democrats also accuse the Orban Government of looting the state budget under the guise of the pandemic. They ground their accusations on the conclusions of a control carried out by the Court of Auditors over the acquisitions made by the Executive during the state of emergency.

Meanwhile, prime minister Ludovic Orban, who was present at the reading of the motion in the Parliament, said his cabinet would challenge the motion at the Constitutional Court invoking a constitutional conflict between the Parliament and the Government. Orban believes that a no-confidence motion can’t be debated and voted during an extraordinary session of the Parliament. However, former Constitutional Court members argue that there’s no mention in the Constitution in this regard.

About 205 MPs signed PSD’s no-confidence motion. However, PSD leader Marcel Ciolacu believes his party will have no problem in gathering the votes needed for the motion to pass (over 233 votes).

(Photo source: Gov.ro)