site.btaAUR Boycotts Prime Minister Consultations at Cotroceni Palace

Romanian President Nicusor Dan convened consultations at Cotroceni Palace on Wednesday to nominate a new prime minister, but the far-right opposition Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) declined to take part, according to a statement from party spokesperson and current MP Dan Tanasa broadcast live online.

Tanasa said AUR understands that the government has already been formed, the consultations are merely a smokescreen for the public, but said the party cannot participate in a charade, and does not wish to be a part of it. We have responsibility towards the voters who chose differently, who voted for peace, who voted for political stability and cannot legitimize a coup d’état, or a government made up of the same figures who brought Romania to this point, Tanasa added.

Representatives of AUR were also absent from the first round of consultations convened by Nicusor Dan at the end of May, after he assumed office as President of Romania. It is still unclear whether they will join the newly-formed Romania First Alliance, established earlier today.

Earlier on Wednesday, Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) leader Kelemen Hunor said that the UDMR’s participation in the future coalition government is not certain, as the party does not have influence, key ministries or advisers in the incoming executive. Let’s see if we can agree on the government programme and fiscal reforms. We will not have direct influence over important decisions, including taxation. We cannot simply be window dressing, Hunor said, quoted by Digi24.

First to attend Wednesday’s consultations will be representatives of the Social Democratic Party, with the Parliamentary Group of National Minorities scheduled to be the last.