Parliament: Censure motion rejected

The censure motion initiated by the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Save Romania Union (USR) against the Grindeanu Cabinet was rejected on Wednesday by Parliament in a joint plenary meeting.

A number of 161 votes in favour and 8 against were cast.

The motion would have passed with at least 233 votes in favour.

The parliamentary groups of Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) ensured the session quorum in the censure motion debate, but did not vote

Representatives of ALDE also announced that parliamentarians of this party were present in the hall to ensure the session quorum, but did not vote.

The leader of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) Kelemen Hunor stated on Wednesday, that the MPs of his political formation abstain from voting the censure motion titled "the Grindeanu Government - the Government of national defiance. Don't legalize theft in Romania." 

"Today the UDMR deputies and senators will abstain from voting. (...) Today, after all the mistakes of the Government, but without knowing what the initiators of this censure motion [ National Liberal Party and Save Romania Union - e.n.] want to do if the Government were to fall, it's not possible to vote with a clear conscience against the motion, or in its favor," he stated in Parliament, during the motion censure debate.

Before the vote, the head of the Save Romania Union (USR), Nicusor Dan, stated on Wednesday that the Grindeanu Government lost its trust, because it placed "the interest" of the party's head ahead of the country's interests. 

"This Government crossed the red line. There are limits that should not be crossed, and this Government crossed such a limit. There were years when the public funds in Romania were robbed and nobody was made accountable for that. With much effort, our society succeeded to create a mechanism through which people who fail are made accountable. What the Grindeanu Government did, at 1:00 a.m., was attempting to erase the whole effort and bring Romania again in area of the own liking. Because of this, it lost its trust. We all know that it was not Mr Grindeanu who initiated this ordinance. We all know that Mr Liviu Dragnea, who has a criminal file, who has a criminal conviction, put pressure on Mr Grindeanu. But, Mr Grindeanu had all the means to oppose. He did not do it, he was a coward. He put the interests of the party's head in front of the country's interests and for that he lost its trust," the leader of USR stated in the joint plenary meeting of Parliament, at the debate of censure motion. 

Dan added that the the national security of Romania, but also the further economic development are also hinged on the trust in the Government.

The interim head of the National Liberal Party (PNL), Raluca Turcan, stated, on Wednesday, that the censure motion is a political sanction against an unacceptable governing behavior, arguing that "at night like thieves" became the slogan of the Dragnea-Grindeanu-Tariceanu governance. 

"This censure motion is a political sanction against an unacceptable governing behavior in the EU. "At night like thieves" became the slogan of the Dragnea-Grindeanu-Tariceanu governance. It is the slogan of an original democracy which the mentioned gentlemen are trying to install in Romania, a repeated democracy in a crime key and which pretends that on the basis of the popular vote anything is allowed: Emergency Ordinances are fit for the political clientele, demolition of institutions and other powers", Turcan stated, at the debate in the Parliament on the censure motion "Grindeanu Government - the Government of national defiance". 

According to Turcan, those from the governance forgot the agenda of the population and the country priorities, and passed laws that will "save" them and those "protected". 

According to her, in less than two months, Romania's image abroad was destroyed. 

She mentioned that people who took to the streets - at least half a million - sent a clear message that any electoral result is not an endorsement for the abuse. 

She told the Prime Minister Grindeanu that the abrogation of Government Emergency Ordinance (GEO) No 13 does not "erase his sins", does not exempt him from responsibilities and he should pay with his position. 

The PNL leader argued that the ordinances have caused a lot of tension and a lot despair, "especially to those who love Romania wholeheartedly." 

Speaker of the Deputies' Chamber and leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Liviu Dragnea stated on Wednesday that the censure motion lodged in Parliament by the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Save Romania Union (USR) is just a malicious footnote of President Klaus Iohannis' speech. 

"I admit that I expected more wisdom in these difficult moments, at least from the politicians of the PNL, giving it is a party with history and tradition. I, as well as you, find that we were wrong. The PNL and the USR, alongside President Iohannis, seem only interested to quickly regain a poor political capital, however assuming the risk to divide Romania. You filed a political motion, a hypocrite, useless one, which expresses, more exasperating, the dissatisfaction of losing the elections. When will you understand that you lost the elections? This censure motion is nothing but a footnote to the weak and malicious speech delivered yesterday by President Klaus Iohannis. The fact that entire parties are placed again at the trailer of a single man, should worry us, but we will get used to it. It isn't the first time when the PSD is ruling in hostility conditions. I ask you: why the PNL and the USR lodged this motion? So that the Grindeanu Government won't raise wages, so it won't pay pensions or adopt all those measures that Romanians votes and which can make their life better?," Liviu Dragnea stated in the joint plenary meeting of Parliament, in the censure motion debate. 

He added that the Grindeanu Executive achieved what the Ciolos Government didn't achieve in a year. 

"To whom is fueling this hatred state useful? Does it help Romania, Romanians, does it help democracy or others? This Government wants to rule, people have voted so it will rule. Leave the Government to govern. The motion challenges a problem in front of which the Government already withdrawn. The Government understood the message of the people who protested and decided to withdraw the ordinance regarding the amendment to the Criminal Code. The Government will take other measures in order to end this unwanted conflict, which was created because of a bad communication in respect to this subject. I expected though from the ones in the Opposition, some of them direct participants when the Boc Government assumed the criminal legislation, through engaging the Government liability, I expected an invitation to rewrite this law together, here in Parliament. However, I hope you are all aware that if the Government didn't adopt these amendments that doesn't mean the amendments are not to be made. They have to be made as soon as possible in order to protect people from an unfair justice," the Speaker of the Deputies' Chamber stated.

Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, Premier Sorin Grindeanu said that he wants to contribute to the Romanians' much needed reconciliation. 

"As Prime Minister, I want to contribute to the much needed reconciliation of the Romanians. (...) I assure you that I am fully aware of all the emotion and anger Ordinance No. 13 has triggered. A great part of the country democratically conveyed us their belief that they cannot identify the general good in that ordinance. Therefore, I decided to promptly call a Government sitting and repeal the act. I'll never again accept any such initiative in the Government. As a PM, I felt I had to do that. These subjects which can send emotions running high in society require much more debate, more dialogue, more expert opinions, and the best place for this to happen is here, in Parliament," Grindeanu said during Parliament debates on the no-confidence motion. 

He admitted that the recent events that have driven a wedge in Romania's population cannot be ignored. 

"I watched the protests for several nights in a row, from inside the government offices. I think that the Romanians (...) who took to the streets are perfectly entitled to shout their discontent if they feel so. (...) I publicly express my appreciation for the impeccable way the Romanian gendarmes have done their duty these days. We have all seen that most of the time the people felt protected and safe. (...) These days we also witnessed a lot of creativity on the signs in the people's hands, in the slogans they chanted, as well as on Facebook. I had the opportunity to read a plethora of comments and messages, some of support, others obviously negative. I will always appreciate any criticism provided that it is backed arguments, but I will never accept an outpouring of hate against families and children," said Grindeanu. 

The Prime Minister went on to say that the politicians have a duty "to harmonize" views coming from the society and bring them to a "common denominator". 

"I was expecting President Iohannis' speech the other day to tap in this direction, because things have indeed gone too far. We all have spouses, parents or children who came to hurl harsh words at each other these days. I heard someone say that the parents are protesting in front of the Cotroceni Palace, while their children rally against the government in Victoriei Square. I cannot accept the country's division. This must stop. This is not normal," Grindeanu said, pleading for families to peacefully reunite and spend pleasant time together, the way they do around the Christmas dinner table. "This is normal Romania and I think this is the message that any responsible politician must give. Not hatred, but reason and dialogue must prevail," Grindeanu concluded.

According to him, the no-confidence motion lodged by the Liberals represents a constitutional right, it has no object anymore. 

"We have a budget that brings Romanians prosperity and development. We have all the necessary levers in place to implement the governing program the Romanians have voted for in December in an overwhelming majority. Today we meet again, one month since the installation of the current government. The Opposition filed a no-confidence motion. It is our colleagues' constitutional right to do so, but I cannot help remarking that this move has no longer an object," Grindeanu said in his address in Parliament occasioned by debates on the motion. 

He added that he had expected a "professional approach" from the National Liberal Party since this is about "serious matters".

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