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| THE BIRTH OF A RULING COALITION 09/12/2008 |
| (2008-12-09) |
| Last updated: 2008-12-10 16:06 EET |
Troubled waters are beginning to clear after the parliamentary elections on November 30th. The left-wing alliance of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Conservative Party (PC), which has won the second-largest number of parliamentary seats, has resolved to join the pro-presidential Liberal Democratic Party (PDL), winner of the largest number of seats in Parliament, in a ruling coalition. The decision came after a lengthy and heated debate of Social Democrat leaders, and according to analysts, it proves that local party officials are anxious to get back to power after a four-year break. The PSD president, Mircea Geoana, says the party will negotiate with PDL, but under certain conditions. Mircea Geoana:
“The decision we have made, and the task entrusted to us by the National Executive Committee, is to start negotiations with the Liberal Democratic Party on a ruling majority, on condition that the proportion of the November 30th vote is preserved, that the social measures of our governing programme are implemented and that the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) is not part of this majority.”
But PDL had already reached an agreement with the ethnic Hungarians, who have been in power – or close to it – for the past 12 years. Liberal Democrat leader Emil Boc accepted the terms of PSD, except for the one regarding the UDMR. Emil Boc:
“The Liberal Democratic Party will carry on negotiations with the two parties that have expressed interest in joining our party in a future coalition to govern Romania.”
Surprised and upset by the Social Democrats' attack, Marko Bela retorted:
“I find it hard to understand the decision of our PSD colleagues . We are not particularly happy about working with the Social Democrats either, because we would have preferred a right-wing coalition. But at this point, the country needs a government, a stable majority in Parliament, and we all must agree to some compromise to this end.”
The right-wing coalition that UDMR was dreaming about is very unlikely at the moment. The National Liberal Party, with the third-largest parliamentary group, and regarded so far as the arbiter of the political game, risks being left out. Pundits believe that this is because of the Liberals' lack of flexibility and far-fetched claims in the discussions with the other political players. After four years in power, the Liberals are not afraid to go in opposition. The National Liberal Party leader, incumbent Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu:
“It is an honour for us to serve our country and our voters as an opposition party. As long as we cannot find a way to reach an agreement and a favourable solution for a number of core principles we hold dear, we will not be part of a ruling coalition.”
Some analysts already pity and predict a gloomy future for the Social Democrats, who are getting dangerously close to president Traian Basescu. This is, in effect, the argument put forth by some Social Democrat “heavyweights,” including the former president Ion Iliescu, who opposed the alliance with PDL. The daily paper “Gandul” says that, quote “while PSD is asking for Basescu's permission to marry PDL, Iliescu plans to ruin the wedding.”unquote. Under the headline “PSD surrenders,” the newspaper Gandul writes that, quote “for the sake of money and for fear of anti-corruption prosecutors, PSD has decided that they have to join the governing coalition. They claim a deputy prime minister position, the Senate president position and one ministry more than the Liberal Democrats.” End of quote.As for the name of the would-be prime minister, it is the president who makes this decision.
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2025-04-03
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