Romania’s PM-designate presents governing program; territorial reform is top priority
Romania's Prime Minister-designate, Eugen Tomac, has unveiled his governing program. The newly released document comprises 21 chapters and identifies "administrative-territorial reform" as its primary focus.
Eugen Tomac's government program was released to the press on Saturday, June 13, by his communications team, who noted that it has not yet been submitted to Parliament, indicating that changes may still occur. It has also not been shared with political parties; representatives from the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL), the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania, and PACE have confirmed this to HotNews.
Tomac's top priority, if the program passes the vote in Parliament, is "administrative-territorial reform."
"Romania is the only country in the EU that has not carried out an administrative-territorial reform to European standards. Restructuring the territorial framework is a necessary condition for any sustainable sectoral reform—administration, health, education, European funds, and local development," the government program states.
The program emphasizes that this reform is essential for other areas to function effectively.
Vladimir Ionaș, the sociologist proposed for the Ministry of Development, recently stated on Facebook that this reform "is the most important structural reform that Romania can initiate. It should not be viewed merely as an electoral theme or a theoretical exercise, but as a vital step toward creating a more efficient and balanced state that can better address the needs of its citizens."
The program also incorporates measures requested by the PSD, such as eliminating the CASS tax for mothers but not for veterans or people with disabilities, and indexing pensions starting January 1, 2027. However, the specific percentage for this indexation has not been disclosed.
Incorporating these measures into the government program was a condition set by the PSD to support the designated prime minister in Parliament.
The Social Democrats have not yet officially announced whether they will vote for or against the Tomac government, with a decision expected on Monday. The PSD is considering two options: either not voting “for” to avoid being the sole major party supporting the government, or allowing each parliamentarian to vote freely according to their preference.
Romania has been without a government with full powers for a month, following the dismissal of Ilie Bolojan on May 5, after a motion of censure initiated by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians.
Tomac's government requires 233 votes to be inaugurated, and the support of the PSD, which has the largest number of parliamentarians (128), is crucial. The PNL (76), USR (59), and AUR (90) have already announced that they will not support it. Consequently, Tomac has already lost 225 votes out of a total of 465.
