Designated Prime Minister Siegfried Mureşan believes that AUR’s objective is not to help the PSD, but to replace the PSD on Romania’s political stage as the dominant party

Designated Prime Minister Siegfried Mureșan warned PSD that refusing to vote for the government proposed by the pro-European parties would not benefit the Social Democrats, but would instead strengthen AUR. He made the statement to Euronews Romania amid negotiations to form the new government.

Mureșan argues that AUR’s objective is not to support PSD, but to replace it as the dominant party on Romania’s political scene. In his view, an rapprochement between the two parties would turn PSD into AUR’s junior partner, which AUR would eventually “swallow.”

The designated prime minister told the Social Democrats that supporting the government could allow them to win back some of the pro-European left-wing electorate. By contrast, if PSD engages in a populist competition with AUR and votes against the government, the winner would be the party led by George Simion.

Meanwhile, negotiations over the allocation of ministries among PNL, USR and UDMR are expected to be completed in the coming period. Mureșan said that no new ministries would be created, existing portfolios would not be divided, and no additional positions would be established. The number of deputy prime ministers and ministries would also be reduced.