Romanian USR Party Vows to Block PSD Government After New Law Affects Mayor's Mandate

Dominic Fritz, the president of Romania's USR party, declared on Saturday that his party will not support a government led by the Social Democratic Party (PSD). This firm stance follows the promulgation of a new law concerning integrity, which includes an amendment that could result in Fritz losing his position as mayor of Timișoara within 30 days.

Fritz conveyed his party's position via a Facebook post, stating, "Good morning! We still won't vote for a PSD government." The law in question was promulgated by Nicușor Dan, who, despite his previous criticisms and a referral to the Constitutional Court, proceeded with enacting the legislation.

The new law, published Friday evening in the Official Gazette, modifies and supplements existing regulations on integrity. A key provision mandates that elected officials found definitively incompatible or in conflict of interest must relinquish their positions within 30 days of the law taking effect, provided the legal prohibition remains applicable. For cases identified after the law's enactment, the mandate loss will occur from the date the National Integrity Agency's report or a court ruling becomes final.

This legislation revisits a previous amendment that was removed by the Constitutional Court in August concerning "persons in relationships similar to those between spouses." However, the court upheld the constitutionality of provisions leading to the loss of office for officials declared incompatible or in conflict of interest. The law also reintroduces the public disclosure of dignitaries' assets, with the National Integrity Agency set to publish financial interest statements from January 1, 2027, for a period of five years.