Traian Băsescu: President Nicușor Dan, PSD, PNL, and interim government all violating Romania's constitution
Former president Traian Băsescu says President Nicușor Dan has abandoned his role, the interim government of Ilie Bolojan is illegal after 60 days, and PSD and PNL have governed together for 20 years, sharing blame for economic mismanagement.
Two decades of PSD-PNL rule
Băsescu argued that the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the National Liberal Party (PNL) have effectively governed together for 20 years, sharing responsibility for economic mismanagement. He pointed to the large deficit run up during the Tăriceanu government from 2006 to 2009, which he said he and then-prime minister Emil Boc had to clean up afterwards.
They created a disaster then, a huge deficit, and I had to come with Boc to fix it after them.
He dismissed doctrinal differences between the two parties, recalling their cooperation in his own 2007 suspension and their support for Mircea Geoană.
President Dan accused of abandoning his role
The former president reserved his sharpest criticism for incumbent Nicușor Dan, saying the head of state had "abandoned the role of president" by leaving the resolution of the political crisis to the parties. Băsescu insisted that Dan should have moved quickly to nominate a new prime minister, and that Siegfried Mureșan would have been a superior choice.
I don't understand why Nicușor didn't make a second nomination. If it passes, very well; if it doesn't, he also has the possibility of a third solution: early elections.
He stressed that the president is not forced to call snap elections after two failed attempts but can propose a third or fourth candidate.
Interim government past legal limit
Băsescu said the current interim government led by Ilie Bolojan has now been in place for more than 60 days, exceeding the 45-day limit set by the constitution.
The constitution says an interim government can stay 45 days. 60 have passed. After 45 days, ministers can no longer sign; matters must be delegated to state secretaries and directors.
He called on the Bolojan cabinet to announce that no minister will perform any administrative act, arguing that the president, the parties, and the government are all violating the constitution.
Electoral calculations behind the deadlock
Băsescu suggested that the only real division between PSD and PNL is the personal antipathy between PSD's Sorin Grindeanu and interim prime minister Bolojan. He attributed Bolojan's recent criticism of PSD to his interest in running for president.
They've been tied together for 20 years. Why all of a sudden does Bolojan come and say he no longer likes PSD? It's the interest of running for president.
He predicted that sooner or later the two parties would end up governing together again.
