Former Romanian minister ironically invites rival to salary talks

Former Romanian Minister of Labor, Florin Manole, issued an ironic invitation to Siegfried Mureșan to join ongoing negotiations regarding the salary law. Manole, a member of PSD, suggested that Mureșan's liberal proposal for the prime minister position indicates he is not focused on critical national matters.

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I invited him. There is a horse for him here, he is expected. Surely he is very interested in the fate of the PNRR, the budget, the country's money, European funds. Surely he is not on the beach, surely he is not on vacation and drinking coffee somewhere.

Manole, speaking at the Parliament where meetings between PSD representatives and trade unions were taking place, directly addressed Mureșan. "I invited him. There is a horse for him here, he is expected. Surely he is very interested in the fate of the PNRR, the budget, the country's money, European funds. Surely he is not on the beach, surely he is not on vacation and drinking coffee somewhere," Manole stated, implying Mureșan might be neglecting his duties.

The negotiations, which involve various occupational groups, are intensive. Manole indicated that a conclusion might be reached by Tuesday after consultations. He stressed PSD's commitment to absorbing all possible funds from the European Union's Recovery and Resilience Facility (PNRR). However, he cautioned against passing legislation that could dissatisfy a large portion of the workforce.

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We are, for the time being, far from a conclusion.

"We are, for the time being, far from a conclusion," Manole admitted. He emphasized the need to find a solution that ensures social satisfaction and prevents strikes. If that is not achievable, PSD will not support a law that reduces the income of many individuals in sectors like education, health, defense, and public order. The goal is to balance absorbing EU funds with maintaining public contentment and avoiding widespread discontent.

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We want to absorb all possible funds from the PNRR, but at the same time, we are firmly convinced that a law that dissatisfies everyone is not a law we should vote for.