After a nearly 3-month long political crisis, Romania has
a new government with full executive powers as of Thursday. But its political
complexion is one that even the most skilled political analysts could not have
predicted a while ago.
In the autumn of 2019, after the Social-Democratic government
headed by Viorica Dăncilă was dismissed through a no-confidence vote, the
National Liberal Party, encouraged by president Klaus Iohannis himself, vowed
to send its political opponent, the Social Democratic Party, in opposition for
the next two parliamentary terms at least.
They managed to do so a year later, in December 2020, not
by winning the election but by building a governmental coalition of the parties
placed second, third and fifth in the vote-namely the Liberal Party, Save
Romania Union (USR) and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR).
The Social Democrats, who had actually won the largest number of seats in
Parliament, were forced into the opposition.
They saw an opportunity this September, when USR left
the ruling coalition over disagreements with ex-PM Florin Cîțu. The Social
Democrats leapt at the chance and tabled a no-confidence motion against the
remaining minority government.
Two failed attempts at forming a minority government followed,
one by USR and the second by the Liberals jointly with UDMR. The Liberals and
the Social Democrats, archenemies until recently, eventually sat down to
discuss a coalition government, together with UDMR and the ethnic minorities
group in Parliament.
On Thursday, the new government, headed by the Liberal
Nicolae Ciucă, easily secured Parliament’s vote of confidence and were sworn in
before the president. Putting one’s ego aside seems to have been one of the
themes of the day. President Klaus Iohannis pointed out:
Klaus Iohannis: People are sick and tired of crises, of promises. People
want action and results. I invite you to deliver.
In turn, PM Nicolae Ciucă, a retired general, promised:
Nicolae Ciucă: We undertake to do everything in our power to
improve Romania’s economic, social and healthcare situation. We have come to
understand that Romanians’ interests are above all egos and political enmity.
And the Social Democratic leader Marcel Ciolacu also
talked about leaving egos aside and taking urgent action to ensure Romania’s
stability:
Marcel Ciolacu: We will increase child allowances, pensions,
minimum wages and allowances for people with disabilities. Pensioners with the
smallest benefits will also receive aid to cover their bills this winter. We will
bring more money to the state budget, but also to the people.
The new ministers have already rolled up their
sleeves. We’ll see how it goes. (tr. A.M. Popescu)
