Electoral body blocks USR-PLUS Alliance from running in the European elections

The Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) has decided to reject the Alliance 2020 USR-PLUS’s bid to run together for the EP elections in May this year, a PLUS press release informs. PLUS chairman, Dacian Ciolos replied that „it is an insult to the voters and a totally undemocratic action”.

The reason given by BEC is that Dan Barna and Dacian Ciolos would not appear as USR chairman, and PLUS chairman respectively in the register of the political parties.

„The Central Electoral Bureau, politically handled by PSD-ALDE, bans us from running for the EP elections. It is an insult to the voters and a totally undemocratic action. PSD and ALDE, together with their satellites, are destroying the elementary principle of democracy by breaking the right to run and to be elected. We’ll take all necessary steps and we’ll protest until this illegal undemocratic act will be repaired. Since the first announcement of our entering politics until today we have been the target of the dirtiest attacks. When they saw we are not intimidated, they kicked off the political maneouvering of the state institutions. I call on all PLUS and USR members to join forces and fight this undemocratic act,” Dacian Ciolos stated.

The former technocrat PM argued that BEC’s decision is abusive, as Dan Barna was elected USR chairman in October 2017 and he was elected PLUS chairman in February 2019.

„Both parties asked the Bucharest Tribunal to register their chairmen, but no final ruling has been pronounced so far. For this reason, BEC has denied the Alliance’s application for registration. It is a political decision taken upon the pressure of the corrupt regime installed by Liviu Dragnea in Romania”, reads a press release.

Ciolos further said that their bid has been denied because Liviu Dragnea is afraid of Alliance 2020 USR-PLUS and of the „No criminals” campaign.

“No matter how many obstacles we are facing, we’ll not stop. BEC ruling is not final, we’ll challenge it to the Supreme Court and we are confident that judges will repair the abuse committed by BEC“, Ciolos said.

On the other side, ruling Social Democrat Party denied PLUS accusations, claiming that the two parties, PLUS and USR, are to blame for their alliance has been rejected by BEC.

“If USR and PLUS consider themselves mistreated, they must have confidence in justice and they must follow the appeals to stand by their stance“, PSD says.