Sorin Grindeanu admits PSD mistakes and criticizes government's proposed administrative reform

PSD interim president Sorin Grindeanu said the party had fallen below the 20% threshold in polls due to several factors, including the erosion of governance and strategic mistakes made in the past year. "There are many causes. No matter how well it has been governed, the erosion of governance is also felt in percentages. Even if you have built highways, increased pensions and salaries, all these things can be seen and felt," Grindeanu said. He stressed that PSD has been in government almost continuously for the past 13 years, and this has inevitably contributed to political wear and tear. Live on TV, Grindeanu admitted that one of the PSD's biggest political mistakes was the electoral alliance with the PNL in the 2024 elections. "We believed too much in the word of the PNL. When we agreed to have joint lists, we did it out of respect for the coalition we assumed. But from the moment they turned around and stopped respecting the agreements, a six-month period of accusations and conflicts began, in which no one won. It was a political circus," said the social-democratic leader. At the same time, Grindeanu admitted that the party should have managed its relationship with former Prime Minister Victor Ponta better, in order to avoid a separate candidacy for the presidential elections. "I think the PSD should have had more discussions with Victor Ponta, in order to convince him not to run," he noted.

• Criticism of the "reform” in public administration

In the same intervention, the PSD leader harshly criticized the Government's project on the reform of local public administration, which he called "a mass layoff”. "I approved Kelemen Hunor when he said that it is not a reform. When you fire people, you are not doing a reform, but layoffs. There are mayors who have excessive staff and positions must be reduced, but not through brutal cuts. The reform must improve services, not block the administration”, declared Grindeanu. He offered as an example Ordinance 52, which he said was "made stupidly, like idiots”, blocking the functioning of institutions and forcing the Government to return later with exceptions.

• Warning regarding fiscal measures

Grindeanu also sent a warning regarding the 3rd Package of fiscal measures, currently being prepared at the government level. "This package must be the last for which the Government assumes responsibility. It is an exceptional way of legislating, that is why we have Parliament. Assumption must be used only in extreme situations," he said. The interim president of the PSD stressed that this package must also contain measures for economic recovery and stimulation, not just budget cuts. "Otherwise we risk turning a budget crisis into an economic crisis. When you only talk about cuts and layoffs, you risk losing people's trust," Grindeanu warned. Finally, the social-democratic leader insisted on the idea that real reform must aim at the efficiency of institutions, not just staff reductions.