The Senate has passed the simple motion initiated by PSD against Minister of Public Finance, Florin Citu, by 59 votes to 56, two abstentions.
The simple motion, entitled “PNL Government, your name is austerity” was initiated by 41 Social Democrat senators.
“Mr. Citu, as minister, made hazardous and irresponsible statements only to serve political orders of the party he represents in a moment with maximum public exposure – the electoral campaign for the presidential elections,” the simple motion reads.
PSD also argued that Florin Citu’s statements prompted the devaluation of the RON in relation to the Euro and US dollar, which “will translate for Romania’s population into increased bills, prices for goods and services, of installments for bank credits and inflation.”
The motion also states that “the ROBOR (interbank offered rate) index at 3 months, which is the basis for the interest rate calculation for most credits in lei, has risen to 3.03 pct, the highest level in the past month, according to data published on Monday, December 2, by the National Bank of Romania (BNR). On Friday, the ROBOR at 3 months has stagnated at 2.99 pct. On Monday, this index rose to 3.03 pct, the highest level since October 29, when it was also 3.03 pct .”
The motion also slammed the Liberal FinMin for the announces layoff among state employees.
In retort, PM Ludovic Orban said he won’t sack Florin Citu following the simple motion in the upper chamber. Orban argues that would be the last straw, “to accept that a PNL minister is judged by those who destroyed the budget in the past 3 years”. The PM added that “PSD is the last party entitled to voice an opinion on the public finances topic in Romania”.
“This is a cheap petty political move, normally Mr. Teodorovici, who is the initiator of this motion, should be held responsible somewhere else for the budget mess they had left us (…) As for me, I am very pleased with the collaboration with the minister of Finance and under no circumstances I intend to take any decision in his regard”, Orban said.