PNL: “The PSD can no longer shift the blame onto others”

The National Liberal Party (PNL) announced, after Tuesday's vote installing the Niculescu government, that it will move into opposition. From now on, full responsibility for governing rests with the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the prime minister designated by President Nicușor Dan - said in parliament Ionel Bogdan, spokesperson for the PNL. “Today's vote in parliament has closed the political crisis that the PSD, together with AUR, triggered five and a half months ago. From this moment on, the governing of Romania is the responsibility of the Social Democratic Party and the prime minister designated by Nicușor Dan,” he said.

According to him, the PSD “can no longer be in power and in opposition at the same time, as we have become used to from them.” He added mockingly that, as far as he knew, the Social Democrats had very good solutions for the country, they simply weren't allowed to put them into practice. “Now nothing stands in their way anymore, the PSD government has to deliver results and show concretely what Romania gains from the governance it has taken on.”

The PNL and the UDMR voted in favor of the new government, but the Liberals will not take part in governing. According to Bogdan, from opposition the PNL will hold the government strictly accountable for every flawed decision, every instance of corruption, abuse and waste of public money. “We warn the PSD not to derail Romania from the right path onto which the Bolojan government has set it, and not to steer the country back onto the wrong track, the path of reckless spending and huge budget deficits,” he said. He added that the party will stand for the same things in opposition as it did in government: the modernization of the country, a fair and efficient state without privileges, value-creating investments, and economic growth based on investment rather than consumption.

The Liberals will continue to cooperate with the USR in parliament and will act against the “hidden or open majority” of the PSD and AUR. “It is clear that as of today our paths diverge. The PNL is not the same as the PSD, and political blending without results opens the way for radicalism and anti-system parties. At the next parliamentary election, the right wing must offer voters a reformed and strong alternative,” the spokesperson said. He added that the installation of the Niculescu government is not the end point but an “important beginning,” in which the PNL pledges to represent all Romanians who want a modern, Euro-Atlantic Romania without privileges.

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