Romanian democratic parties are attempting to create a “cordon sanitaire” around far-right parties, which have gained popularity among voters in recent presidential and parliamentary elections. However, the liberal-conservative Union for the Save Romania Union (USR) prefers to take on an opposition role rather than becoming partners in government.
On Tuesday, three pro-European parties and a parliamentary group representing national minorities in Romania announced their agreement on a joint programme. Nevertheless, the statement did not include Elena Lasconi‘s USR, which was initially expected to join the coalition.
The currently ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL), the Hungarian minority party Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), and the parliamentary group representing other national minorities, which received the most votes in the recent elections, reached an agreement on several key issues, including maintaining the flat tax system, streamlining public administration, and increasing investment in infrastructure.
USR initially agreed to form a broad pro-European coalition. However, yesterday, it criticised the other parties for lacking realistic plans to address public finances and reduce the EU’s largest budget deficit. The USR has called for adopting eight critical points from its programme as a condition for joining the government. PSD and PNL rejected Lasconi’s conditions.
“You can’t promise people you’ll do things for them if you can’t ensure you have the money to do it. I have never lied to anyone, and I will not lie to Romanians now,” Lasconi told journalists after deciding not to participate in the coalition.
Despite the USR’s absence, a coalition of the three parties and the minority MPs would still hold a majority of seats in parliament. In the recent parliamentary elections, PSD received 22% of the vote, PNL 14%, USR 12%, and the UDMR over 6%. Lasconi, the USR leader, came in second during the first round of the presidential elections, which the Constitutional Court later annulled.
The rise of three far-right parties—AUR (Union for the Unity of Romanians), S.O.S. Romania, and the Young People’s Party (POT)—which collectively hold over 30% of seats in parliament, is a significant concern in Romania today. These Romanian irridentist parties promote Russian propaganda, allow foreign actors to interfere in the country’s political affairs, and attempt to destabilise Romanian democracy.
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Publish date : 2024-12-17 16:00:00
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The post The pro-European coalition in Romania proceeds without Elena Lasconi’s party first appeared on Love Europe.
Author : love-europe
Publish date : 2024-12-18 21:28:27
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