Former Prime Minister Ludovic Orban, a former presidential adviser to Nicușor Dan, has put forward a theory regarding Siegfried Mureșan’s nomination as prime minister. Orban claims that the president is not actually seeking the investiture of the new cabinet and that there is a political understanding between Nicușor Dan and PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu, cotidianulhd.ro reports.
The statements were made on Sunday evening, on Digi24, before the meeting at which PSD’s leadership was due to establish the party’s position on the Mureșan Government.
Orban claims that Nicușor Dan nominated a prime minister who, under the current parliamentary configuration, does not have enough votes to form a majority. In the former prime minister’s view, a possible failure of the Mureșan cabinet would subsequently allow the president to back another nomination. “The question is whether or not he wants the Siegfried Mureșan government to be invested. My answer to that question is rather ‘No!’” Orban said.
According to Orban, Mureșan’s nomination would serve to shift responsibility for a possible failure towards the parties that would have to provide the votes for the investiture.
He claims that PNL and USR, in particular, could be put in the position of explaining the cabinet’s rejection. Subsequently, a new proposal for the post of prime minister would, in the scenario described by Orban, have a greater chance of being politically accepted.
The former liberal leader claims that the name of the next prime minister had already been discussed between Nicușor Dan and Sorin Grindeanu. This is Orban’s claim and is not presented as a confirmed fact.
Orban also bases his theory on the timing of Mureșan’s nomination. He recalls that PNL, USR and UDMR had proposed him for the post of prime minister as early as 26 June. “If he had wanted Siegfried Mureșan, he would have nominated him on 26 June,” Orban said.
The former prime minister also challenged the way in which the president made the nomination public. Orban considered that Nicușor Dan’s appearance had not conveyed sufficient conviction in backing the Mureșan solution.
At the same time, Orban believes that the fate of the future cabinet depends on the negotiations conducted by the prime minister-designate with MPs.
At present, Mureșan is attempting to form the government with the support of PNL, USR and UDMR. The three formations do not on their own have the number of votes needed for the cabinet’s investiture.
PSD was due to establish its position on Monday regarding the Mureșan Government. The Social Democrats’ decision is important for the parliamentary configuration needed for the investiture.
Sorin Grindeanu had previously described himself as “surprised and disappointed” by the choice made by Nicușor Dan. Statements have also emerged within PSD that the party should reject the current governing formula.
Claudiu Manda, in turn, announced that he would vote against supporting the Mureșan Government.
Ludovic Orban claims that Nicușor Dan should explicitly link support for the Mureșan Government to the possibility of holding snap elections.
According to the former prime minister, the head of state should tell the parties that, if the cabinet were rejected and the constitutional conditions were met, he was prepared to resort to dissolving Parliament.
