Romania: Pro-EU parties to form majority government amid tension
- 11 December, 10:03
Pro-Western parties in Romania have agreed to form a majority government amid tension that followed the annulment of the controversial presidential election last week.
Romania’s Constitutional Court on Sunday cancelled the results of the first round of December 1 presidential elections that saw far-right, populist candidate Călin Georgescu win majority of votes. The newly-set up government will be made up of groupings that were traditionally on opposite sides and shutting out far-right nationalists who made significant gains in the election.
The first meeting on formation of the pro-European and pro-NATO government was held on Tuesday by the Social Democrats (PSD), the Liberals (PNL), the centre-right USR alliance and the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR).
“In the coming days, the four parties and the representatives of the national minorities will work on a joint governing program, focusing on development and reforms, while addressing the priorities of Romanian citizens,” the coalition statement said.
The new government must be formed urgently to finalize the budget for 2025 and to schedule a new timeline for new presidential elections.
PSD spokesman Lucian Romașcanu said that “a pro-European party will likely need to remain in opposition to ensure the entire opposition is not dominated by those who call themselves sovereignists.”
Romania has been in political turmoil since the first round of presidential election that was marred by election violations and alleged Russian interference.
