Political moratorium "hard to attain"

The parties in the government zone didn’t take part in the meeting the National Liberal Party (PNL) leader had invited them to.

The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) decided against joining, because the political situation is quite confusing at the moment. However, it doesn’t rule out such meetings in the future.

The opposition met without the governing parties and concluded it doesn’t actually want a moratorium, which President Traian Băsescu asked for.

In spite of the fact that it has mentioned a consensus and a moratorium with the opposition, the governing party made a 180-degree turn and didn’t partake in the talks initiated by Crin Antonescu, PNL leader.

The meeting agenda was initially larger, but, without the governing party present, the meeting was more of a session of the opposition.

"Except for its openness for dialogue, even with the governing party, we aren’t doing anything to block legislative developments or debates on important bills in the Parliament. We obviously have different opinions than the Boc Government does, we have our own beliefs, which we are going to defend".

"If, however, by blocking parliament activity, they understand that we are against breaking any democratic principles, they should know we will keep on resisting and defending these rights,"Crin Antonescu stated.

The Social Democrat Party and the Conservative Party criticized the governing party for not joining in.

The opposition parties claim that the UDMR and the minorities group gave in to PDL pressures and refused the liberals’ invitation.

"We stand by our opinion that Roberta Anastase should sign in her resignation at the Lower House. We have also decided to maintain the amendments we supported in the Senate, that is a 45 percent of the average gross salary pension point, retirement at 60 for women and at 64 for men", Liviu Dragnea, secretary general of the Social Democrat Party (PSD) declared.

"Since they’ve been talking about blockage, we ask Prime Minister Emil Boc to check the calendar. It’s 30 days past the deadline to bring the state budget bill in Parliament. There’s nothing to debate", Liviu Dragnea also stated.

As for certain comments and rejoinders, the PSD and PNL have agreed they shouldn’t exist anymore between the two parties.

Translated by Gabriela Lungu
MA Student, MTTLC, University of Bucharest