From the formation of a stable government to the implementation of fundamental reforms, the Parliament will have to respond to a series of urgent needs, say political analysts consulted by Adevărul.
Parliament of Romania. Photo: Chamber of Deputies
Top priority: Forming a stable government and protecting democracy
One of the most important topics on the Parliament’s agenda is the formation of a government that has the confidence of the majority. Political analyst Cristian Pîrvulescu believes that this must be the first priority of the future legislature. “It is essential that the Government has parliamentary support in order to function properly“, says the analyst.
On the other hand, Valeriu Turcan adds that this process will be influenced by the fragility of the parliamentary majority. “For the coalition, the concern will be securing the majority and voting discipline. If the majority will be fragile, all efforts will be focused on maintaining cohesion between the parties“, emphasizes Turcan, considering that any destabilization of the coalition could affect the proper functioning of the Government.
Protecting democracy and honoring the pro-Western commitment
Next, Pîrvulescu emphasizes the importance of a firm commitment in terms of protecting democracy and maintaining a pro-Western line. “Parliament must ensure the protection of democracy, and this will be seen in the way the political positions will be distributed. It is important that the extreme right do not have access to key functions, especially in the context in which these positions will be redistributed“, adds Pîrvulescu.
Valeriu Turcan, however, believes that Parliament’s attention will focus more on immediate measures, and the problems related to democracy could become less visible in the face of momentary reforms. “Unfortunately, the long-term objectives, such as those of 2025, will be pragmatic and related to the immediate needs of the government. Thus, the Parliament’s activity will be aligned with the current priorities of the government“, emphasizes the analyst.
Economic and administrative-territorial reforms
Another important topic is public administration reform and efficient management of public finances. Cristian Pîrvulescu is of the opinion that the reform of the administration must become a priority, especially in the context of budget cuts. “Administration reform is essential. We are talking about optimizing the functioning of local public administration and reducing expenses. It is an important topic, but it will depend a lot on the political will of the parties to put it into practice“, states Pîrvulescu.
At the same time, Valeriu Turcan notes that the majority of the coalition will focus on fiscal and budgetary measures to ensure the economic stability of the country. “If they agree on an extensive program of fiscal and budget reforms, the Parliament will have to approve the measures proposed by the Government. This is where the major decisions with immediate impact will be made“, adds Turcan, emphasizing that a significant part of the legislative activity will be directed towards supporting economic measures.
The legislative challenges and the political will of the parties
Pîrvulescu believes that the Parliament will have to play an active role in promoting legislative reform measures, but these initiatives will depend on the political will of the parties. “Parliament cannot propose something if the parties that sent representatives there do not have the capacity to support these proposals. So, the parliamentary priority will not only come from the activity of the institution itself, but from the discussions and understandings between the political parties“, states Cristian Pîrvulescu.
Valeriu Turcan agrees with the idea that Parliament’s activity will be dictated by the realities of government, but emphasizes that Parliament’s legislative role cannot be underestimated. “Parliament will have to adopt measures of reform fiscal and budgetary, and in case there will be a solid majority, all these measures will have to be implemented quickly“, points out Turcan.
