PSD to decide today on entering Veștea government, demands minimum wage hike and pension indexation
Romania's Social Democratic Party holds a National Political Council meeting today to decide whether to join the government of Prime Minister-designate Adrian Veștea, with a set of social protection and anti-austerity demands as preconditions for support.
Meeting today
PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu has convened the party's National Political Council for 16:00 on Sunday, 21 June. The council will decide whether the party will enter the government led by Adrian Veștea or remain in opposition. Grindeanu said earlier this week that the decision would no longer be delayed.
We have nothing against Adrian Veștea personally, but I informed him that PSD's decision on whether to enter the government will no longer be delayed.
Grindeanu stressed that discussions focus on the government programme, and he wants internal debates wrapped up by Sunday afternoon. He expressed personal respect for Veștea, noting his electoral wins, but emphasised the importance of a rapid government for Romania.
Conditions for support
PSD has publicly listed a series of measures it demands for parliamentary backing. The party wants to stop austerity and avoid further fiscal pressure on low- and middle-income earners and small businesses. It calls for an anti-inflation package that raises the minimum wage and indexes pensions, along with support for mothers, veterans, and disabled people.
The future government must adopt essential measures to protect the population and boost economic recovery.
Other conditions include extending the "hot meal" programme in schools, capping commercial markups on basic food and non-food items, and a real administrative reform to merge small localities and cut public spending. The party also seeks to reduce bureaucratic burdens by at least 25%.
Political context
Adrian Veștea was designated prime minister but his investiture vote appears insufficient without PSD support. He was expected to submit the government programme and list of ministers to Parliament last Wednesday, then Thursday, but the process stalled. Grindeanu also expressed dissatisfaction with UDMR, the party of ethnic Hungarians, which refused to back the Veștea government despite PSD counting on its votes.
- Veștea postpones submission of government programme initially expected on Wednesday.
- Grindeanu announces PSD will decide on entering government at Sunday's National Political Council.
- PSD National Political Council meets to decide on joining the Veștea government.
I would like to close all these internal debates on Sunday afternoon, hold a National Political Council, and decide whether we join the government led by Adrian Veștea.
