Backstage agreements and debates are breaking through the ruling Social Democrat Party ahead the extraordinary congress to elect the new party chairman.
However, the stake is not electing the party’s president, who will be undoubtedly the current interim one, Liviu Dragnea, considering his candidacy forced its way through the registration procedure while the candidacies of the other two contenders were disqualified on Wednesday.
The real stake is finding a premier to replace Victor Ponta, as political sources unveiled to a local TV that right after Liviu Dragnea’s ‘crowning’ as head of the party, the Social Democrats will seek to kick off Ponta’s replacement from the helm of the Government, against pressures mounting for his toppling due to his indictment in a criminal file.
According to sources for Digi 24, PSD would have received resolute reassurances that the Romanian president Klaus Iohannis would agree a new premier nomination proposed by the ruling Coalition. The same sources disclosed that a discussion between PSD leaders and President Iohannis might take place on this topic after the PSD Congress and that the Social Democrats have also a name in store to submit for the prime minister position.
Both Deputy Premier Gabriel Oprea and PSD interim chair Liviu Dragnea hinted they might be willing to take over the PM position.
Asked during a TV show on Antena 3 two weeks ago if he will become premier later on in autumn, as “it is rumoured”, Oprea first said that Victor Ponta is the prime minister and “he is a good one who will become even better”. However, he admitted he could be a solution for this position. “As premier, I would be an option. Anywhere I am, I always bring a piece of safety, I am serious man. We kept our word in all governments that we have been part of.”
However, Liviu Dragnea is said to not endorsing Oprea for the PM office, as he wants this position for the Social Democrat Party and Oprea is just the leader of UNPR, PSD’s partner inside the ruling coalition.
More than that, late on Wednesday, Liviu Dragnea himself revealed he might be interested in the premier position.
“My target for 2016 is to get the party ready for the local and parliamentary elections,” Dragnea told Antena 3 when asked if once he becomes PSD chairman he will also eye the premier position. At the ankler’s solicitation on this topic, Dragnea admitted: “I won’t say I am interested nor that I am not interested.”