Administrative reform: Niculescu considering giving in to the PSD

Prime Minister Luca Niculescu is seriously considering the PSD's proposal that the government adopt the 2027 budget, as well as the legislative packages on merging municipalities and state institutions, by assuming responsibility before parliament without a debate. “We have taken note of the PSD's proposals, and we are discussing them as seriously as possible,” he wrote in an article by G4Media, published Thursday and based on exclusive information. He added that the budget is a priority for the government, and that administrative reform is also necessary, but both need to be thoroughly prepared and thought through. He has not yet decided which procedure will be chosen; according to the prime minister, that will be determined after consultations.

The proposal comes from Sorin Grindeanu. Two weeks ago, the PSD chairman asked at a press conference that the government assume responsibility before parliament in two separate packages: one would be the territorial reform aimed at merging municipalities, the other the merger of state institutions. According to Social Democratic sources cited by G4Media, Grindeanu also wants the 2027 budget adopted this way, in a specific order. First would come the law on merging institutions, and only afterwards the budget, because if certain institutions are dissolved, it fundamentally changes what and how much needs to be planned for in next year's budget. Grindeanu also previously said that one, or possibly even two, supplementary budgets might be needed before the main budget.

Assuming responsibility is a quick but risky solution. This way the government can avoid a lengthy parliamentary debate and a flood of amendments, but in exchange the opposition can file a motion of no confidence against it, and if that passes, the government falls. This risk is not merely theoretical at the moment. Petrișor Peiu, the leader of AUR's Senate group, recently stated that his party would vote in favor of a motion of no confidence filed by the PNL and USR against the Niculescu government, even though AUR and the PSD have been voting together regularly in parliament in recent weeks. Whether the merger of municipalities will reach parliament in this form remains an open question.

So far, we have published the following articles on administrative reform:

Municipalities with a Hungarian majority may also disappear under the administrative reform - why is the RMDSZ silent?

The PSD government's reform will erase Transylvanian Hungarians, while the RMDSZ keeps dawdling

Szeklerland will also be reshaped, and the RMDSZ will protect us - afterwards

Is autonomy over? Grindeanu would merge the Hungarian-majority counties, and the RMDSZ applauds him

Hunor will protect us, he just hasn't discussed it with anyone yet

The RMDSZ in government? What for?

How the RMDSZ is deceiving us: we're left to deal with the tax hikes on our own

Reform or eyewash? On Monday we'll find out whether the PSD came to govern or just to promise

We are living in complicated times, and the RMDSZ has left us to deal with them alone

Árpád Antal is shouting on Facebook again, while behind-the-scenes work is conspicuously absent

USR's reform list: fewer counties, control over the intelligence services, two-round elections, and more

RMDSZ's prefects stay in their posts. What did Hunor give up for this?

Government-formation negotiations: the RMDSZ secured autonomy

Too much for a campaign, too little for action. Árpád Antal went on a hike in Rimetea (Torockó)

Grindeanu: territorial-administrative reform is coming!

Luca Niculescu's government program promises autonomy to Hungarians!