PNL (National Liberal Party) vice president Robert Sighiartau on Monday stated that the election result is „a vote of blame” given to the governing coalition, noting that a new government is needed, which would include the reformist parties, „without Marcel Ciolacu and the people around him,” because they no longer have credibility and authority.

According to Sighiartau, the blame is collective, as last year’s mistake was repeated by accepting Marcel Ciolacu as prime minister once again instead of having him leave office at the same time with ex-president Klaus Iohannis.

„The PNL must enter a new era, of radical change, and this will be done without the people who brought us to a disastrous economic situation, with a new government that would include all the reformist parties that agree to contribute to reforming the current system: reducing spending, everything that means reducing the waste of public money and everything that bothered Romanians, because the signal was a vote of censure against the coalition as it currently exists,” explained Sighiartau, at the PNL headquarters.

Asked whether the PNL would request the resignation of Marcel Ciolacu from the head of the Government today, Sighiartau specified that the party’s National Permanent Bureau would make a decision.

In his opinion, an Executive without the PSD (Social Democratic Party) would be ideal, but this is not possible.

„But it is very clear that there must be a Government without Marcel Ciolacu, without the people around him, because they no longer have credibility and authority. This is clear,” Robert Sighiartau said.

According to him, the scenario in which the PNL does not remain in government should also be taken into account.

„This is also a scenario that can be taken into account, but there are some very big problems in Romania related to the budget deficit, related to the fact that, up to this point, we have not received many tranches from the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan), and for us, for the National Liberal Party, the development of Romania in an extremely complicated geopolitical and economic moment is important. Therefore, we must pursue the national interest, and the national interest means a new credible government that takes the measures that need to be taken,” the PNL vice-president also explained.

Asked what the PNL can do in two weeks to convince them to support Nicusor Dan in the second round of the presidential elections, Robert Sighiartau highlighted that, „first of all, Romanians must be convinced through facts, not words.”

„I believe that, first of all, the National Liberal Party must have a change of leadership in terms of the Government. Credible people like Mr. Bolojan must come in who impose some reforms,” he added.

According to Sighiartau, one option would be for Ilie Bolojan to be prime minister. „We need a change as soon as possible if we want Romania to follow this Western Euro-Atlantic path. (…) I think the PSD will have to do an analysis and I think they are already doing it and they will make the changes that need to be made,” Sighiartau pointed out.

AGERPRES