NEW GOVERNMENT IN ROMANIA

By a broad majority of 295 votes in favor of  and 133 against (of the total number of 465 Members), the Parliament of Romania approved on the 4.1.2017 the new Social Democrat-led coalition government, bringing the political uncertainty wreathing the country within the last one year to an end. The new Prime Minister will henceforth be Mr. Sorin Grindeanu, a former Minister who will have to make good the campaign promises his political Party made, such as higher pensions and salaries and lower VAT and taxes and primarily to stimulate the development in Romania which aims to become the 13th most powerful economy within the EU by 2020, comparing to the 17th position it ranks today.

In the preceding election on the 11th of December 2016, won by the Social Democrat Party (PSD) which comprises, together with the political allies coming from the center right Party ALDE, the majority of 250 out of 465 seats. As is well known, the elections were triggered through the collapse of the previous PSD government, right after the angry protests in 2015 occasioned by a blaze which broke out in a nightclub and caused the death of 64 people.

“I want Romania to be a country that does not force young people to go abroad to earn a decent living for their families. I hope that we will built a Romania where growth is reflected in all citizens’ prosperity” as amongst others, Mr. Grindeanu stated in the Parliament, while the country’s President indicated that the new government has to strive in order to boost its position in NATO and the EU.

It is noted that, within the context of the new government 4 out of 26 Ministers come from ALDE and the most critical portfolio that of economy, has been undertaken by the veteran politician Viorel Stefan.