Deputy Prime Minister Oana Gheorghiu said on Monday she would continue, alongside Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, her mandate to 'clean up' state-owned companies, adding that she would not accept 'blackmail and populism' from the Social Democratic Party.

'PSD wants to get rid of Ilie Bolojan because he is ‘selling the country', so they are initiating a law to ‘protect' state-owned companies. Let's see who actually 'sold the country',' Gheorghiu wrote on Facebook, listing several examples:

* Sidex Galati - privatised in 2001 under PSD Prime Minister Adrian Nastase;

* Petrom - listed and then privatised (2001-2004) under PSD Prime Minister Adrian Nastase;

* Distrigaz Sud - privatised in 2004 under PSD Prime Minister  Adrian Nastase;

* Distrigaz Nord - privatised in 2004 under PSD Prime Minister Adrian Nastase;

* Nuclearelectrica - listed in 2013 under PSD Prime Minister Victor Ponta;

* Romgaz - listed in 2013 under PSD Prime Minister Victor Ponta;

* Electrica - listed in 2014 under PSD Prime Minister Victor Ponta;

* Hidroelectrica - listed in 2023 under PSD Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.

According to Gheorghiu, PSD is now 'recycling the same slogan from the 1990s'.

'It is sad that, regardless of how much Romanian society has evolved since then, PSD leaders prefer to remain anchored in the past. The most important listings in Romania were carried out by those who now contest them: Nuclearelectrica (2013), Romgaz (2013), Electrica (2014), Hidroelectrica (2023). In all these cases, the state remained the majority shareholder. These companies were not 'sold', but became more valuable, more transparent and better managed. And yet today we are told that listing is dangerous. The truth is simple: Romania has already carried out real privatisations - where the state ceded control - but that is not what we are discussing today,' she said.

She added that current discussions concern minority listings of 5-10%, which would bring in capital without interest, increase company value, introduce transparency and discipline, and create opportunities for Romanian pension funds.

'It is better to own 75-80% of a valuable company than 100% of one heading for bankruptcy. Why does listing bother some? Because a listed company can no longer be controlled arbitrarily. Because it must report publicly. Because it becomes much harder to use as a political tool. That is the real stake - not 'selling the country', but losing opaque control over state resources used to feed the interests of politically connected insiders. The hypocrisy is evident: the same instrument that yesterday was 'a success for Romania' is today labelled 'a danger'. The economy does not function on slogans. It functions on rules, capital and trust. Romania today needs state-owned companies that create value for citizens, not companies captured by political interests. I will continue, alongside Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, the mandate to clean up state-owned companies and I will not accept, at any time, PSD's blackmail and populism,' Gheorghiu said.

PSD Senate leader Daniel Zamfir announced on Monday that he had submitted, under an emergency procedure, a draft law banning the sale of state assets in strategic companies of national interest until 31 December 2027, arguing that the current geopolitical context is not suitable for such measures. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Georgiana Tanasescu; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)