The National Liberal Party (PNL) will move into opposition and challenge every misstep by the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Liberal spokesperson Ionel Bogdan said on Tuesday, adding that Parliament's vote had brought the political crisis to an end and that responsibility for governing Romania now rested with the PSD and the prime minister.

'Today's parliamentary vote has ended the political crisis triggered by the PSD together with AUR five and a half months ago. From this moment on, responsibility for governing Romania rests with the Social Democratic Party and the prime minister designated by President Nicusor Dan. The Social Democratic Party can no longer blame anyone else and will bear full responsibility for the direction the country takes. From now on, the PSD will no longer be able to act as both the government and the opposition, as it has done until now. We were led to believe that the Social Democratic Party had excellent solutions for the country but was being prevented from putting them into practice. Now nobody is standing in its way, and the PSD government has a duty to deliver results,' Ionel Bogdan said after the Niculescu government won Parliament's confidence vote.

He said the PSD would have to demonstrate in concrete terms how Romania would benefit from the government it had undertaken to lead.

'The National Liberal Party will be in opposition and will challenge every misstep by the PSD. We will speak out against every misguided government measure, corruption, abuses and waste whenever we identify them. We warn the PSD not to take Romania off the right course set by Ilie Bolojan's government. We warn the Social Democratic Party not to lead the country down the wrong path again, towards reckless spending and enormous budget deficits,' Ionel Bogdan said.

He added that the National Liberal Party would continue to champion from opposition what it had supported while in government, namely Romania's modernisation.

'We will support a fair and efficient state that does not squander public money. We will support a state without privileges, one that does not favour some people while unfairly placing burdens on others. We will support investments that create value for Romania and economic growth driven by investment rather than consumption. We will continue our parliamentary cooperation with the Save Romania Union (USR) and oppose any overt or covert majority formed by the PSD and AUR,' Ionel Bogdan said.

The Liberal spokesperson stressed that 'from today, the political dividing lines are clear' and that 'the PNL is not the same as the PSD'.

'Political alliances that deliver no results pave the way for radicalism and anti-establishment parties. At the next parliamentary elections, the right must be able to offer voters a strong, reformed alternative. Today marks not the end, but an important new beginning. This is our commitment to Romania's citizens. As we set out on this new path, we will represent all Romanians who want a modern, Euro-Atlantic Romania free of privileges,' Ionel Bogdan said.

Luca Niculescu's government won Parliament's confidence vote on Tuesday, with 280 votes in favour and 58 against. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Alina Novaceanu; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)

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