The Social Democratic Party (PSD) has a plan B in case Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan does not extend the price caps on basic food items, Social Democratic deputy Marius Budai, former Minister of Labour, said Tuesday.

„Capping markups on food is a barrier against speculative price increases for the 17 basic food items! So it is 100% certain that if the cap is removed, prices for essential foods will rise! This means impoverishing Romanian citizens with low incomes while increasing profits for large retail chains,” Budai wrote in a post on his Facebook page.

He emphasized that PSD will not allow food prices to rise.

„I call on PNL [the National Liberal Party] and USR [Save Romania Union] to explain to their own voters why they want to increase food prices and what agreements they have with the major retailers. What drives them to make such profoundly anti-social and anti-national decisions in these already difficult times? I tell them they were not voted in by retailers, but by Romanian citizens. And I tell them something else: PSD will not allow this! We have plan B if the prime minister does not extend the price caps,” Budai added. AGERPRES