The governing coalition met on Wednesday for a new round of talks on completing the draft State Budget.

On Monday, in the first meeting of the week, the governing coalition decided that Wednesday would host the full budget closing session to complete all chapters and adopt the version agreed by the coalition.

On Tuesday, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) requested its coalition partners to adopt a constructive approach in negotiations over the 2026 state budget, stressing that fund allocations should reflect the public policies of all parties in the coalition, not just some.

„From this perspective, those who refuse to include in the budget or who seek to reduce allocations for the PSD Solidarity Programme risk causing an unjustified and irresponsible political deadlock, with negative implications for the budget execution this year,” the Social Democrats’ release said.

The PSD underscored that the measures in the Solidarity Programme are financially reasonable, but absolutely necessary from a social perspective.

The Social Democrats highlighted that „the political stability” mentioned by some of the partners is not just the PSD’s responsibility alone and should not be invoked only when the PSD defends its own electorate.

„Political stability is the responsibility of all parties in the governing arc, which have an obligation to respect the voters of the other coalition partners,” the release said.

On behalf of the National Liberal Party (PNL), Liberal leader and Senate President Mircea Abrudean said on Tuesday that the state budget for 2026 should be adopted „swiftly.”

„Romania needs a state budget adopted swiftly, not endless discussions. The debates must be closed very quickly. We are in a complicated international context, with economic pressures and uncertainties coming from external markets. There is no need to add new domestic uncertainties through delays in the 2026 budget. From the perspective of the National Liberal Party, this budget must have four clear priorities: increased investment, more funds for local administrations, no rises in taxes or duties and social protection „realistically” funded,” Abrudean wrote on his Facebook page.

In his turn, Chairman of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) Kelemen Hunor said on Tuesday that the draft budget could be sent to Parliament next week and debated in the plenary meeting between 15 and 17 March if the coalition reaches an agreement on this matter on Wednesday.

„If we reach an agreement tomorrow, then the draft will go to Parliament next Wednesday, because they need a week for certain procedures, consultations, the CES [Economic and Social Council] and so on. That means the budget will arrive in Parliament on Wednesday and discussions will probably begin two or three days later, since it must first be examined in the committee, and around 15, 16, 17 March it could enter plenary debate. If we reach an agreement tomorrow and if internal procedures, approvals and everything that needs to be done in the Government begin tomorrow,” Kelemen Hunor said.

Last week, Save Romania Union (USR) Chairman Dominic Fritz stated that „the USR will not increase the deficit” because „we cannot give electoral gifts on credit.”

Asked by the press about the adoption of the budget, Fritz mentioned: „For us, as USR, it is extremely important not to continue the harmful path of the past, where we close political gaps and cover the difficulties of financing certain things by increasing the deficit through debt. We need to decide on our priorities and we cannot give electoral gifts on credit, which is why I also expect the coalition partners to come forward with proposals and, for every leu they propose, to also indicate where to take it from. The USR will not increase the deficit.”

The Minister of Finance stated on Tuesday that the 2026 budget is one of responsibility and balance, built on a new record level of investments and attracted European funds, and that the way it is structured sends signals about Romania’s credibility and seriousness.

„I presented yesterday, at the coalition meeting, the draft 2026 budget. It is a budget of responsibility and balance, built on a new record level of investments and European funds attracted to Romania, which will support the recovery. We aim to reduce the deficit towards 6 percent of GDP, in a context where pressures remain high. Although, due to loans accumulated in previous years, interest payments are rising by around 0.5 percent of GDP, investments will exceed the 2025 level – particularly those from European funds, which increase from 78 billion lei to over 100 billion lei. We need a realistic budget. We cannot allow slippages, spending without sources or measures without coverage that only give false hope to vulnerable people. The objective is to reduce the state’s borrowing needs, strengthen confidence, create conditions for more favourable financing. (…) The 2026 budget is not about promises, but about stability, investments and discipline,” the minister wrote on his Facebook page.

AGERPRES