Romania: attempts to form a government fail again
Romania has been embroiled in a government crisis since May. Now the latest attempt to form a governing coalition has also failed, with Prime Minister-designate Siegfried Mureșan receiving only 182 of the 233 required votes. The Social Democrats (PSD) refused to support him and the right-wing populist AUR abstained. The press examines the balance of power and economic repercussions.
Seizing power step by step
Hotnews's chief editor Clarice Dinu sees the PSD and AUR on course to form a government:
“Even if Siegfried Mureșan's government had been confirmed, it would not have been the Liberals (PNL), the Save Romania Union (USR) and the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), who wielded real power but the PSD and AUR, which hold the majority in parliament. ... The fact that they collaborate with each other is no secret. They have long since begun to wrest top posts in parliament from the USR and the PNL and to install their own people in the upper echelons of public radio and television. Just like in the old handbook on seizing power: they're preparing to take the reins of government.”
Solutions needed now
Ziarul Financiar warns of the economic consequences of the government crisis:
“Since the start of the crisis the Bucharest Stock Exchange has dropped by 16 percent, not just because of the international context, the wars and other factors, but also because of the turbulent domestic political situation. The latest figures show that the economy will enter a recession this year and contract by between 0.6 and 0.7 percent. ... The PSD and President Nicușor Dan have triggered this crisis. It's their responsibility to resolve it. Not tomorrow, but today.”