Traian Băsescu, after the failure of the Siegfried Mureșan Government: The president’s signal against early elections led parliamentarians who feared losing their mandates not to vote for the Mureșan Government

Former President Traian Băsescu claims that snap elections have become the only solution for Romania, after the Government proposed by Siegfried Mureșan failed to receive Parliament’s vote of confidence on Wednesday.

Băsescu says that President Nicușor Dan’s repeated messages that snap elections are not a solution encouraged lawmakers who feared losing their seats not to vote for the Mureșan Government.

“The strongest signal given by President Dan now, during the debates concerning the Mureșan Government, was that he does not agree with snap elections, which encouraged all those who might have had doubts about losing their seat in Parliament; it encouraged them not to vote for the Mureșan Government,” the former head of state said. He specified that, until recently, he had not supported this option because of the procedural difficulties and the time required, but now considers that there is no alternative left.

The Siegfried Mureșan Government received 182 votes in favor, compared with the 233 required for investiture. President Nicușor Dan called the parties to new consultations on Monday and announced that he would then make a new nomination for the position of prime minister.