Romania's new parliament convenes amid political deadlock

Bucharest (Romania), December 21: Romania's newly elected Parliament convened on Friday following the Dec. 1 elections, as efforts to form a pro-European coalition government remain stalled.
In the Senate, senior senator Ioan Stan of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) presided over the inaugural session. Of the 134 elected senators, 114 were present, and a 15-member Validation Committee was formed to certify mandates, reflecting the chamber's political composition. Senators will take the oath of office once validations are complete.
The Chamber of Deputies also convened, chaired by Seres Denes of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR). Of the 331 deputies, including 19 representatives of national minorities, the majority attended the session, and a 30-member Validation Committee was established to certify their mandates.
The Dec. 1 elections resulted in the PSD leading with 22.4 percent of the Senate vote and 21.96 percent in the Chamber, followed by the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) and the National Liberal Party (PNL). Other parties crossing the electoral threshold included the Save Romania Union (USR), S.O.S. Romania, the Party of Young People, and the UDMR.
Romania's Constitution mandates that the new Parliament convene within 20 days of the final election results. Both chambers are considered legally constituted once two-thirds of the mandates are validated and members take their oaths.
Despite an initial agreement among PSD, USR, PNL, UDMR, and minority groups to form a pro-European coalition government, negotiations have stalled. The USR has presented eight demands, including the resignation of President Klaus Iohannis, further complicating talks.
On Thursday, PSD leader Marcel Ciolacu announced the party's withdrawal from coalition negotiations but pledged parliamentary support for a right-wing government in order to avoid prolonged political instability.
Senate President Nicolae Ciuca (PNL) called for pro-European parties to resume talks, stressing the need for a "majority political construction" to ensure governance.
Source: Xinhua News Agency