Radu Miruță mocks Sorin Grindeanu at the USR congress: “He is looking for an imaginary hole in the national budget [...] maybe he’ll also find Mr. Ciolacu’s baccalaureate diploma”

Radu Miruță, deputy prime minister and defense minister, mocked PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu on Saturday and criticized the Social Democratic ministers in a speech delivered at the USR congress in Timișoara. The statements came amid disputes within the governing coalition over the budgetary situation, reforms, and the reduction of privileges.

The USR leader accused the PSD of limiting itself to criticism, despite having been part of the government for a year, and of failing to publicly present concrete solutions for restoring the country’s finances. Miruță said the Social Democrats had not explained where the money would come from, what spending should be cut, or what projects would be built.

Responding to Sorin Grindeanu’s statements about the debts left by the former government and his intention to “de-usr-ify” the ministries, Miruță spoke of an “imaginary hole” in the budget. He also made a series of jibes and political accusations against several former PSD leaders, referring, among other things, to Marcel Ciolacu’s baccalaureate diploma, flights associated with the Nordis company, and controversial political meetings.

Miruță further claimed that PSD ministers generate “media noise” to justify their lack of results and distance themselves from the reforms adopted. The PSD did not offer a response to the USR leader’s statements in the speech presented.

The USR congress in Timișoara is the first organized after the party entered the opposition. Approximately 600 delegates from across the country are electing the 24 members of the National Bureau. President Dominic Fritz’s mandate is not subject to a vote.