PNL's Orban: Tudose, Dragnea's puppet, no respect for democracy

National Liberal Party (PNL) leader Ludovic Orban criticised on Monday premier Mihai Tudose's absence at the reading in Parliament's plenary sitting of the censure motion, maintaining that the prime minister is "Liviu Dragnea's [leader of Social Democratic Party, ruling - ed.n] puppet." 

"Dragnea's puppet, Tudose, has showed once again that he has no respect towards democracy and the Romanian citizens by being absent from the reading of the censure motion, motion that was addressed first and foremost to him as leader of the Government. I see that thick skin is in style in PSD," Orban said after PNL's Executive Bureau meeting. 

The censure motion initiated by PNL and Save Romania Union (USR) against Tudose's Government and titled "PSDragnea, mother to all in the campaign, plague at rule" was read on Monday in the joint plenary sitting of the Deputies' Chamber and Senate. 

The censure motion was presented by Liberal deputy Dan Vilceanu. 

The Speakers of Parliament's two Chambers, Liviu Dragnea and Calin Popescu-Tariceanu were also absent from the reading of the censure motion. Neither premier Mihai Tudose nor most of the Cabinet members were present. 

The Liberals criticised the short-notice appointment of the plenary sitting for the reading of the motion. 

The PNL deputies' leader, Raluca Turcan stated that Liviu Dragnea and Calin Popescu-Tariceanu broke the Regulation of Parliament's joint sittings, by communicating only a few hours prior the reading of the censure motion. 

The Secretary of the Deputies' Chamber, Ioana Bran stated at the end of Parliament's leadership meeting that a date for the debate and vote on this motion hasn't been established yet. 

PNL and USR tabled the censure motion last Friday. AGERPRES .