UDMR threatens a motion against the Niculescu Government if the PSD reform is adopted through a confidence vote

UDMR will “without a doubt” vote for a no-confidence motion against the Niculescu Government if the Executive assumes responsibility for the administrative-territorial reform proposed by PSD, the leader of the Union’s deputies, Csoma Botond, said Friday on Antena 3 CNN.

The Hungarian party rejects the bill, which it considers insufficiently substantiated and drafted without consultations. Csoma Botond accused PSD of “unseriousness,” noting that the population thresholds for reorganizing localities have successively changed, from 1,500 to 3,000 and then to 5,000 inhabitants.

UDMR argues that the reform cannot be based solely on numerical criteria. According to Botond, ethnic, historical and geographical particularities must be taken into account, along with Romania’s international commitments to protect national minorities. He cited Article 16 of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, which prohibits altering the boundaries of administrative-territorial units to the detriment of an ethnic community.

The lawmaker also criticized PSD’s intention to adopt the reform by assuming responsibility, arguing that a bill must be drafted and debated. He said that PSD has not held discussions with UDMR on the matter.

The party particularly challenges the risk of merging Harghita and Covasna counties and turning certain towns and resorts into communes. The localities affected by the demographic thresholds include Sovata, Covasna, Predeal, Băile Tușnad, Borsec and Băile Herculane.

One option discussed within PSD envisages reducing the number of counties from 41 to 15, following the model of the Courts of Appeal. UDMR has not ruled out supporting a no-confidence motion, but Csoma Botond said the party would not initiate such a move together with AUR.