PSD's Ciolacu: PSD endorsing minority gov't headed by Florin Citu, out of the question

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) is willing to vote for a censure motion filed by USR PLUS (Save Romania Union - Party of Liberty Unity and Solidarity Alliance) and AUR, as endorsing minority government headed by Florin Citu is out of the question, PSD leader Marcel Ciolacu said on Thursday evening. "There is but one censure motion. I have seen the trick of those of the USR - a mockery - they are invoking the coalition's protocol in the censure motion. I believe Romanians have other priorities. (...) We have presented the text, whoever wants to sign this motion... we are willing to negotiate on the text, (...) We negotiate the text, they sign the motion, or there is another option: they file a motion with AUR, and PSD signs it. No problems whatsoever on our part," Ciolacu told Romania TV private television broadcaster. Asked if the two political formations have the required number of signatures, Ciolacu said: "They have the same political vision, I believe." "They should come and talk. They can't come file a motion, as they lack signatures. (...) Let USR together with AUR file it. PSD will vote the motion and the Citu government falls. Therefore, let they sign a motion together, USR with AUR, file it with Parliament and I promise that all my colleagues - 157 - will vote for it. They have enough [signatures]. They will ask Orban as well, as they are doing it for Orban. (...) They are not using PSD to negotiate their mischieves in the government and their positions. There are 234 signatures, we go to Parliament right away, we file the motion, we vote for it, Citu goes away," the Social Democrat MP said. According to the PSD leader, "this government should have fallen the moment Citu had been proven a criminal, a convict." "Weren't Barna and Ciolos the promoters of the law "No criminally convicted in public offices"? That moment they should have said; Mr Citu, go away, you have a criminal conviction. (...) They created a circus on some mean and low interests. (...) Iohannis should take them and assume responsibility for them, not make a call on all political forces. The highest responsibility is that of the President, it is his Government," he added. Marcel Ciolacu rules out PSD endorsing a minority government headed by Florin Citu. "It is out of the question! I want the law "No criminals in public offices" to pass in the Senate. How can I endorse Citu? (...) Are we destroying the country only out of a political interest? (...) The Romanians' priority zero is that the Citu Government left," the PSD leader mentioned. Asked if he would rely on the support of the dissidents in "Ludovic Orban's group," he said it was "an act of patriotism" because "people are fed up". AGERPRES (RO - author: Catalina Matei, editor: Antonia Nita; EN - editor: Adina Panaitescu)