Romania’s Social Democrats refuse to back Prime Minister-designate Muresan

Romania’s Social Democratic Party (PSD) decided on Monday not to support a government proposed by Prime Minister-designate Siegfried Muresan, deepening the country’s political deadlock.

The PSD’s National Political Bureau recommended opposing the proposed Cabinet, with the party’s National Political Council expected to make the final decision, according to local broadcaster Antena 3 CNN.

PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu said the party would only support a government in which it participates and accused Muresan of planning to continue policies that the Social Democrats blame for impoverishing Romanians.

“PSD cannot vote for Siegfried Muresan,” Grindeanu said, adding that the prime minister-designate had not contacted him to seek the party’s support.

Romanian President Nicusor Dan signed a decree Monday formally designating Muresan as a candidate for prime minister.

Muresan has 10 days to submit his governing program and proposed Cabinet to parliament for a confidence vote.

He plans to begin consultations with the National Liberal Party (PNL), Save Romania Union (USR) and the ethnic Hungarian UDMR before presenting his program to representatives of national minorities.

Muresan said he would not negotiate with the nationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), arguing that the party was not committed to European values.

“We will not have a dialogue with AUR,” he said, while acknowledging that individual lawmakers were free to determine how they would vote.

Muresan pledged to form a competent, stable and unequivocally pro-European government focused on reducing inflation, promoting economic growth and improving living standards.

The PSD has indicated that it is prepared for early elections if the proposed government fails to secure parliamentary approval.