The Mureșan Government, put to a vote in Parliament. What are PSD and AUR’s tactics for the plenary session

The government proposed by Siegfried Mureșan will face an investiture vote in a joint session of Parliament on Wednesday, starting at 1:00 p.m. The designated prime minister does not yet have the required majority. At least 233 votes “for” are needed for investiture, out of a total of 465 parliamentarians. PNL, USR and UDMR, the parties supporting the cabinet, have approximately 170 seats combined. The vote is secret, using ballots.

PSD and AUR, different tactics

PSD announced that its parliamentarians would attend the session but would not support the cabinet. The decision was made unanimously on Monday by the National Political Council. “Today, PSD made a firm, assumed and irreversible decision: we will not vote for the Mureșan Government,” said Sorin Grindeanu, who added that, after Wednesday’s vote, “PSD reaffirms its desire to govern.” The Social Democrats will support a prime minister proposed by the party at Cotroceni, and the name being discussed is Sorin Grindeanu.

AUR chose not to participate in the vote.

“We will not be present in committees or in plenary, and we will not vote for a Siegfried Mureșan Government or for the one that follows,” announced George Simion. The AUR leader said that the party had appointed a negotiating team with the other parties for a different majority.

Minorities and unaffiliated lawmakers, decisive

The national minorities’ group, with 17 parliamentarians, and the 23 unaffiliated parliamentarians are the main sources of additional votes. The minorities agreed to announce their decision on Wednesday, just before the plenary vote. “The national minorities’ group will announce its voting intention tomorrow. We had very good discussions with them. [...] I am very optimistic,” said Mureșan.

He added that “we already have several votes secured from the unaffiliated parliamentarians and the other smaller groups. We will see exactly how many at the vote.”

On the other hand, sources from the two groups explained to HotNews.ro that the national minorities’ group and United for Romania are leaning toward a “conscience vote” – each parliamentarian will be free to vote as they see fit.

What number is Mureșan relying on?

The designated prime minister says he is relying on approximately 200 votes. “We are around 200 certain votes. We need 233 votes for investiture,” said Mureșan.

In another statement, he said: “At the moment, we are well above 170 votes, but we are still below 233 votes.”

Kelemen Hunor does not see the votes

UDMR President Kelemen Hunor said on Wednesday, a few hours before the vote, that the chances were slim.

“There are not 233 votes needed to invest the Government. So, from my point of view, today, of course, we will carry the procedure through to the end, as we agreed together, but I do not see those votes beyond 170, 171,” said the UDMR leader. He added: “Of course, there will be another 10, 12, 20 votes in Parliament, but I do not see where those votes up to 233 would come from.” On Tuesday, Kelemen had spoken of 229 “theoretical” votes, but specified that it was “an arithmetical possibility, not about discussions and promises.”

What happens after a possible failure

Political sources cited by Antena 3 CNN say that Nicușor Dan does not intend to dissolve Parliament. The president is expected to resume consultations with the parties and make new nominations until a government is approved by vote.

The leader of the UDMR deputies, Csoma Botond, anticipates two more designations: “My assumption is that (Nicușor Dan – ed.) will not dissolve Parliament now. I believe he will make two more designations [...] One politically motivated designation and one [...] he will return to his idea of a technocrat.” Csoma believes the second has better chances. Regarding a possible nomination from PSD, he said: “I am not sure that Mr. Grindeanu would want to take part in a possible failure as designated prime minister.”