Social Democrat leader: Romania’s Government has no reason to resign

Liviu Dragnea, the president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), said on Monday that the Government led by Sorin Grindeanu has no reason to resign, despite the massive protests that took place in Romania last week. The protesters demanded the Government’s resignation in the street, saying that they can no longer trust this cabinet. However, Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu also said on Sunday that he would not resign. Related to a possible resignation of justice minister Florin Iordache, who initiated and supported the emergency ordinance that triggered the protests in Romania, Dragnea said that Prime Minister Grindeanu would take a decision in this sense after a talk with Iordache. Dragnea also stated that the “nervousness” is increasing among party members and supporters, and that, if the protests don’t stop now that the Government has repealed the emergency ordinance, this means that “we are witnessing something else, a political protest after the elections were conducted fairly.” When asked what he would do if the protests continue, the PSD leader called for calm. However, he also said that the anti-Iohannis and pro-PSD protests staged in front of the Cotroceni Palace on Sunday might turn into a “snowball,” which might escalate into a street conflict, and no one would benefit from this. “In addition to the protesters who took to the streets in Victoriei Square, we respect their right to an opinion, there are also the other Romanians, maybe not Mr. President’s Romanians, but who shout and say that their vote must be defended, and this Government must continue,” Liviu Dragnea said. Some 2,500 people protested in front of the Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest on Sunday, asking for President Klaus Ioahnnis' resignation. Some of the protesters called Iohannis a “traitor,” and showed their support for the Government led by Sorin Grindeanu. Meanwhile, some 600,000 Romanians took to the streets in Bucharest and many other cities on Sunday, asking for the Government’s resignation. Romanian PSD leader says protests “professionally organized”, points finger at multinationals Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com