” It’s a joke against Florin Citu ”

Finance Minister Florin Citu told NLP leader Ludovic Orban that he is not withdrawing “under any circumstances” from the race for the prime minister post, liberal sources told News.ro. Citu was supported in the party by Robert Sighiartau, Rares Bogdan and Raluca Turcan. Ludovic Orban told his party colleagues that he wants to get the leadership of the Chamber of Deputies or the post of prime minister.

The leader of the PNL, Ludovic Orban, proposed on Tuesday night, in a small meeting at the party headquarters, that Florin Citu resign as prime minister. Thus, Ludovic Orban would become the party’s candidate for prime minister, and USR PLUS would receive the leadership of the Chamber of Deputies by Dan Barna. But NLP leaders were categorically opposed to it, sources present at the discussions told News.ro.

The most vehement was the secretary general of NLP, Robert Sighiartau. “It is a joke against Florin Citu and the party. We cannot do that again,” Sighiaratu said, referring to the fact that Florin Citu resigned as prime minister in the spring. to accommodate Ludovic Orban, who was fired at the time on a vote of no confidence.

At the Tuesday night meeting, Orban tried to interrupt Robert Sighiartau, but Raluca Turcan intervened. “Ludovic, finish what you have to say!” Asked the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister.

Florin Citu, the official nominee of the NLP prime minister, categorically told Ludovic Orban that he would not withdraw “under any circumstances” from the race for Victoria Palace, because he would lose his credibility, the sources quoted say. Florin Citu was also supported by NLP MEP Rares Bogdan, who stated that the party should stay with Florin Citu, prime minister.

Finally, Rares Bogdan said that President Klaus Iohannis must have the last word.

Orban: “I don’t give up”

Ludovic Orban told his party colleagues that he will not resign as president of the Chamber of Deputies. “USR PLUS has a choice: the prime minister of Citu and I the president of the Chamber of Deputies. Or I the prime minister and Dan Barna, president of the Chamber of Deputies,” Ludovic Orban said at the NLP leadership meeting.

The Liberals could resume talks with USR PLUS and UDMR on Wednesday for the division of duties in Parliament, initial information indicating that they could resume on Thursday.
All the PNL leaders present at the talks called on Ludovic Orban to stop the “party riot”. “We laugh and it will cost us,” say the sources cited.

The Tuesday evening meeting of the NLP leadership was attended by: Ludovic Orban, Ionel Danca, Robert Sighiartau, Rares Bogdan, Raluca Turcan, Alina Gorghiu, Iulian Dumitrescu and Florin Citu.

Read also: Power struggles in the NLP: Florin Citu’s version as prime minister was not withdrawn. What is Orban’s party asking you to accept as prime minister?