The good results the party obtained in last year’s parliamentary and local elections with Victor Ponta at the helm of the party have ensured his landslide victory. Liviu Dragnea, Ponta’s right hand, both in the government and in the party, consolidated his status by obtaining the position of executive president of the party. Political analysts say this position, which had been eliminated from the party’s structure for some time, was reactivated with the special purpose of increasing Dragnea’s leverage inside the Social Democratic Party and giving legitimacy to his decisions. The congress also saw the appointment of 16 vice-presidents, 8 for the national level party organizations and 8 for the regional ones.

After the congress Victor Ponta made an interesting announcement, namely that the party would run alone in the 2014 European Parliamentary elections, given that it has no real competitor on the left side of the political arena.

Some observers interpreted the announcement as another step towards the Social Liberal Union’s dismantling. However Victor Ponta explained that the Social Democratic Party and the rightist National Liberal Party would obtain more votes if they were running separately and not under the Social Liberal Union’s umbrella, although analysts say this decision points to secession.

On the occasion the PM Victor Ponta resumed criticism against some Liberal Party members. The fissure between the Social Democratic Party and the National Liberal Party emerged with the proposals Victor Ponta made for the General Prosecutor’s Office and the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, in his capacity of interim justice minister, despite the staunch opposition expressed by Liberal leader Crin Antonescu.

Another bone of contention between the Social Democrats and the Liberals was the overtaxing of high salaries in the state system wanted by the Social Democrats. It remains to be seen if the Social Liberal Alliance will stay together or dismantle, given the lesser and lesser compromises the two sides are willing to make.