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Correspondence from Bucharest // Romanian MPs and senators take oath of allegiance on Saturday

The new Romanian deputies took the oath today after they had their first meeting yesterday. The 446 senators and MPs will form the new Legislative, which will vote on the country's new government in the coming days. The pro-European parties are still negotiating to form the Executive, which is still led by the current Prime Minister, Social Democrat Marcel Ciolacu.

The session of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies began at 9:00 a.m. All 312 Members of Parliament (MPs) and 134 senators took the oath of office individually. According to the results of the December 1 election, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) has the most MPs, with 122 seats, followed by the AUR party with 91 elected members, the National Liberal Party (PNL) with 71 MPs, and the Save Romania Union (USR) with 59 MPs. SOS Romania has 40 parliamentary seats, the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) has 32, and POT has 31.

Minorities will be represented in the new parliament by 19 elected members. The legislative body will include four pro-European parties: PSD, PNL, USR, and UDMR, along with the representation for minorities, as well as three parties considered extremist: AUR, SOS Romania, and POT.

We remind you that the 2024-2028 legislature of the Parliament in Bucharest will feature many new names, some of which are controversial, such as businessman Gigi Becali and actor Mugur Mihăiescu, a member of the comedy troupe Vacanța Mare.

Once formed, the new Parliament will need to vote on the Government, which, according to ongoing negotiations, is expected to be composed of a majority from PSD, PNL, and UDMR. It is likely that USR will not participate in the Executive and will join the extremist parties in the opposition.

It is worth mentioning that the current head of the Romanian Government, Social Democrat Marcel Ciolacu, is the favorite to fill the position of Prime Minister.

However, PSD spokesperson Lucian Romașcanu stated today that following tomorrow's consultations at Cotroceni Palace with President Klaus Iohannis, a nomination for Prime Minister will be made to form the Government. He emphasized that any public discussion of potential candidates at this time is "premature."

Author: Mircea Oprea

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