The agreement

Ilie Bolojan, the PNL leader who is serving as interim prime minister, said on Sunday evening that he had signed an agreement with Luca Niculescu, the prime minister-designate nominated by the president. The document sets the conditions the Liberals want met in exchange for their support in the investiture vote. Bolojan told B1 TV that he signed it just before the broadcast began, and he said the deal covers the next two to three months, until the 2027 budget is adopted.

“It is not a political agreement, it is not a blank cheque given to this government.”

The Liberals decided to back the cabinet despite criticism from some of their own supporters and from colleagues who said they would not attend the vote.

Conditions and the 2027 budget

According to Bolojan, the agreement covers emergency ordinances needed for budget rectifications so that basic services keep running. It also covers ordinances that prepare the 2027 budget, which would need approval in Parliament. One clause requires next year's deficit to fall to a maximum of 5.3 percent, which he described as the target Romania committed to in earlier years. He said the 2027 budget should meet the country's needs while keeping Romania on its fiscal path. Asked whether the deficit could fall while the next government promises higher pensions, he said the room for manoeuvre of any government is small.

Why the Liberals chose to vote

Bolojan argued that a prolonged crisis would endanger public services. He said Romania has been in a political crisis for more than five months, starting on 20 April, when PSD withdrew political support from the PNL-led government. PSD ministers resigned on 23 April, and on 5 May a censure motion filed by PSD and AUR passed, bringing down the government after 11 months in office.

Bolojan admitted the choice could cost the party politically, because some supporters are unhappy. He also criticised the earlier Tomac cabinet as a facade-style arrangement, in which PSD had ministers without real accountability.

“This is a vote of necessity. It is not a vote of confidence. We do not endorse this government, but Romania needs a government with full powers today.”

Bolojan gave concrete examples of what he says a funding gap could mean. He said an ambulance might not reach a serious road accident because it had run out of fuel, and that a large emergency unit might be unable to pay staff or buy supplies. He also said fuel prices rose by 20 to 30 percent after the war in the Gulf began, and that ambulance and fire service budgets would not last until December without a rectification. He accused the Health Ministry, previously led by Alexandru Rogobete, of leaving vital expenses uncovered.

“Think about it: everything is fine in Romania until a serious road accident, when ambulances cannot arrive because they have run out of fuel.”

What happens next

Bolojan said Romania pays interest of more than 3 percent of GDP, about 60 billion lei a year, an amount equal to the education budget. He warned that promises without funding only create dissatisfaction. Under the agreement, the PNL would not file a censure motion before the 2027 budget is approved, provided the terms are respected, and otherwise the party could file one. Parliament is due to vote on the investiture of the Niculescu government on Tuesday, 20 October, from 14:00.