A simple motion initiated by the USR against Energy Minister Virgil Popescu is being discussed at the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday, which will be voted on on Wednesday.

A simple presentation entitled “Romania without energy. Romanians are paying for the incompetence of Virgil Popescu” was submitted by the USR on September 1, the first day of the regular session of the parliament, according to Agerpres.

“According to Article 112 of the Constitution of Romania and 189 of the Regulations of the Chamber of Deputies, I submit a proposal: “Romania without energy. Romanians are paying for Virgil Popescu’s incompetence,” said group leader Ionuc Mostianu.

The leader of AUR, deputy George Simion, said that the party he leads supports this approach.

In the submission, USR claims that any extra day that Virgil Popescu is minister means “another hour of cold that Romanians will have to endure during the winter”.

“Virgil Popescu is an endless source of incompetence. He is the emblem of this failed government made up of not very smart guys. And this can be seen on the bills of every consumer in Romania. This began to be painfully reflected on the card of workers in the manufacturing industry. And he sees in the debt from the budget that the Romanian government has to pay the electricity supply companies: 40 billion lei – even if in recent weeks this number has been more like a roulette wheel,” the document says.

The signatories criticize the scheme of compensation and capping the price of energy, “perfected by Virgil Popescu”, saying it is a “trick”, a “trick” or a “maneuver” that has created panic and uncertainty.

“The artwork of the PSD-PNL-UDMR government, perfected by Virgil Popescu with unconscious composure and with the complicity of ANRE, is the famous scheme of compensation and restrictions. Instead of predictability, “SCHEME” – because this government could only conceive of a “scheme”, “trick”, “stunt” or “maneuver” – created panic and uncertainty. It left companies critical to the Romanian economy in debt, made tens of thousands of jobs vulnerable and weakened Romania’s energy security in an extremely difficult international context (…) The slogan of “SCHEME” established by the Cucée government is very easy to remember: “Romanians, sleep peacefully! Virgil Popescu, turn off your lights!”, the movement also states.

The initiators also claim that Virgil Popescu brought the economy to a standstill.

“In winter, you don’t have to worry that we have a war on the border, which also affects us energy-wise, you don’t have to save on energy, and you don’t have to take a hot shower on time. Virgil Popescu solved this problem already in the summer: companies from the manufacturing industry have already reduced or even closed their activities! This is how we became energy efficient: we no longer need energy, because Virgil Popescu made sure to stop the economy and there is no one to consume it “, the document also states.

USR also notes that during the three years of Minister Popescu’s mandate, Romania has gone from a market with low energy prices to the highest prices in the European Union.

“For three years, Minister Popescu’s track record is unprecedented: zero new MW of electricity put into production, 6000 MW removed from production! Investments are there on paper and in election pictures, but in reality they are completely absent. The Yernut power plant has been unfinished since 2019. Will you sell it for scrap in a few years too? Zero new renewable energy projects. And the list goes on. In three years, Mr. Minister, you have taken Romania out of the market with low energy prices, as you yourself told us in 2020, directly at the top of the ranking with the highest prices in the European Union! You are the champion of bankruptcy – both economic and moral!”, the document says.

USR also says Romanians are tired of the “shameful theatre” of coalition parties criticizing the “energy poverty minister” but voting to keep him in office.

“Mr. Popescu, every extra day that you are a minister means one more hour of cold that Romanians will have to endure in winter! Otherwise, long live the bankrupt government!” – reads in a simple appeal.