PSD settles on two options for Romania’s next government, sources say

The Social Democratic Party has gone into Romania’s next government consultations with two fallback plans, but both depend on assembling support beyond the main governing parties. At a leadership meeting in Sinaia, PSD decided to seek a minority cabinet led by Sorin Grindeanu as its first choice, according to party sources cited by Adevărul.

The proposed parliamentary support would come from UDMR, representatives of national minorities, the sovereigntist group led by Victor Ponta and other lawmakers from the conservative wing of the National Liberal Party. If President Nicușor Dan declines to nominate Grindeanu, PSD would accept a technocratic prime minister who forms a political government with PSD participation.

PSD leaders expect Dan to nominate Eugen Tomac again, the European Parliament member and presidential adviser, the sources said. Dan is due to invite political parties to consultations this week for another prime ministerial nomination. The scenario currently under discussion would see Tomac lead a government backed by PSD.

UDMR’s position is central to the arithmetic. Grindeanu reportedly assured PSD branch leaders that the Hungarian party would vote for the new government this time. UDMR did not support the no-confidence motion against the Bolojan government, later declined to back governments proposed by Tomac and Veștea, and had previously supported Siegfried Mureșan, the nominee of PNL and USR. Dan refused to nominate Mureșan.

According to Adevărul, UDMR leader Kelemen told PSD leader Grindeanu and PNL leader Ilie Bolojan that Hungarian lawmakers would support any prime minister proposed by Dan. PNL and USR have said they will not vote for an executive containing PSD ministers, leaving the PSD-UDMR-minorities formula, supplemented by sovereigntist lawmakers, as the only majority option described in the report.