Cotroceni Palace hopes to have new government in September

In the political analysts' opinion, the only strong negotiation lever at Nicusor Dan's disposal to lay pressure on political parties is that of starting the process of organizing early elections.   If 100 days ago, when Bolojan's government was released by motion of censure, voted in Parliament by PSD and AUR, someone could have said that the provisional situation could extend to four months or more, few people would have believe it. Only after the unsuccessful attempts made by Romania's president to appoint Eugen Tomac and Adrian Vestea it was clear that political gridlock would keep the PNL leader at Victoria Palace until the fall.   The uncommonly long period in which Romania functioned without government with full powers indicates another aspect less talked about – how weak politicians can be in analyzing reality. Sorin Grindeanu expected and counted on the fact that PNL rebels would rapidly replace Ilie Bolojan after voting the censorship motion and that the road to a new USL would be rapid. Nothing of what the PSD leader planned and said happened. Not even the magistracy coalition, set up around judge Lia Savonea, which carries out a revenge action against Ilie Bolojan because of the reform of special pensions, expected that the PNL leader would last so long and their plan to fail.   “My feeling is that, when all PNRR rules are closed, setting up the govrnment would become a priority, and that in a few weeks, we will have a solution,” Radu Burnete, president Dan's councillor, told Digi 24.   Nicusor Dan's confident said in fact that what the head of state would like to happen when Romania passes the PNRR exam.   Two laws are with the Constitutional Court, and ne has not reached the Parliament yet. It is the unitary salary law and all laws which have to be analysed by the European Commission, which will compare initial proposals made by Romania in the financing contract.   But, after getting over problems of the last PNRR instalment, estimated at 8 billion euros, a complicated situation could be reached, which could not be solved at Cotroceni Palace, despite Bolojan's more flexible stand, announced by PNL a few days ago.   In the negotiations to set up the new government, the gridlock persists even after the Tuesday meeing organized by Nicusor Dan to discuss the salary law. Sorin Grindeanu was against setting up a technocratic government. The PSD leader considers that the only solution for him is to become the head of a minority government backed by PNL, USR and UDMR.   In the three months of political crisis, public support for the social-democratic party deteriorated a lot, while party members reached the conclusion that is it not profitable to adopt the idea of a technocratic government.   A meeting between Lia Olguta Vasilescu (PSD) and George Simion (AUR) took place three weeks ago. They talked about setting up a political alliance to ensure a parliament majority and a joint government, according to Cotidianul.ro.   After the Parliament coordination and the amendments presented by the two parties to the PNRR laws, the information is also confirmed indirectly. Moreover, Olguta Vasilescu is a supporter of an alliance with AUR. There is also talk within the party about the possibility of removing Sorin Grindeanu if he is not able to bring PSD to rule again.   The social democratic barons are impacient to reconnect to public resources, and a technocratic government, able to preserve budget rigors stands in their path. In these conditions, president Nicusor Dan has a difficult mission – finding a premier and an acceptable political formula for PSD, PNL, USR and UDMR, in a situation where each party has different objectives.   That is why, the only strong negotiation leverl at his disposal is the possibility to organize early elections. In   In the meantime, while everybody is trying to solve the political gridlock, AUR is carrying out a campaign to suspend the president, setting up an instrument that monitors the people's dissatisfaction versus the head of state.   Despite Nicusor Dan's optimism, a complicated autumn is announced from the political point of view, while setting up a new government is not certain, although it is urgent.