Victor Ponta announces that UPR will support the investiture of the Niculescu Government

The United for Romania (UPR) parliamentary group announced on Monday that it would support the investiture of the government proposed by designated Prime Minister Luca Niculescu, without making its vote conditional on obtaining positions in the Executive. The decision was announced by MP Victor Ponta after consultations with the designated prime minister.

Ponta warned that rejecting the Cabinet could trigger serious consequences for Romania on the fiscal, economic and social fronts. He said that forming a new government represented the “last chance” before a major deadlock and criticized the negotiations between the parties, calling them absurd and inexplicable given the problems facing the country.

The MP called for President Nicușor Dan to become directly involved in the negotiations and proposed bringing together the leaders of the PSD, PNL and UDMR to break the deadlock in the talks. Ponta also warned that parties that triggered snap elections could suffer electoral losses.

UPR leader Răzvan Chiriță said that Victor Ponta could be part of the future Cabinet, given his government experience. For now, the consultations have not reached the stage of allocating portfolios, and any potential nomination will depend on the governing program and Luca Niculescu’s decision.

The designated prime minister held talks on Monday with representatives of the USR, national minorities, the PACE – First Romania group and the UPR. Earlier consultations were held with the PSD, PNL and UDMR to secure the majority needed for the government’s investiture.