Bucharest building permits: PSD leader agrees to referendum but wants 2028 start

Sorin Grindeanu, the president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), has stated his agreement with a referendum's provision that would grant the general mayor of Bucharest the authority to issue building permits across the entire city. This provision was approved by Bucharest residents in a referendum initiated by Nicușor Dan when he was the general mayor.

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We are in agreement with the implementation of the referendum, I am not against this thing, it is absolutely normal, it was a referendum that passed and I agree with this thing.

However, Grindeanu proposed that the implementation of this change should begin in 2028. He justified this by referencing current accusations and suspicions that the current general mayor is involved in bribery, allegedly taking money from real estate developers during his election campaign. He suggested that voters should be aware of these allegations when considering the mayor's future mandate.

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But I have this problem which I believe is as normal as possible, given that at this moment we are talking about Bucharest, we are talking about the General City Hall of the Capital taking over the construction permits, everything related to real estate developments in Bucharest, to be taken over from the sector, towards the General City Hall, because that was the referendum. And yes, we agree with this thing, but starting from 2028, because we currently have a general mayor who is accused or suspected of taking bribes precisely from real estate developers during the electoral campaign, to put up his posters, to do his campaign, to become general mayor.

Grindeanu emphasized that he would not vote for the amendment to transfer building permit authority to the General City Hall unless it includes a clause for implementation starting in 2028. He argued that Bucharest residents were unaware of the current mayor's alleged involvement in bribery when they voted in the referendum. If the mayor continues on the same path in 2028, Grindeanu believes citizens will be making their decision with full knowledge of the situation.

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And I will not agree if this amendment does not pass to vote otherwise than from 2028. Because the people of Bucharest did not know they had a mayor who is suspected of taking bribes from real estate developers when they voted in this referendum.