The row on Diaspora vote is far away from ending. Resignations of two foreign ministers over this issue did not convince either officials or simple citizens.
Gunther Krichbaum, President of the Commission for European Affairs at the Bundestag took again his stand in this matter, asking for the European Commission to push on a probe into Romanian Diaspora voting at the presidential elections. The German top lawmaker argued that Romania faced unprecedented massive manipulation of the voting, like nowhere else in any EU member state and that European citizens’ rights have been seriously infringed. “Preventing people from voting represents, in my opinion, that elections have been rigged, as the people’s will was manipulated. Such a massive vote’s manipulation have never happened so far in any EU member state,” Krichbaum told a press release. He stated that following November 16 events PM Victor Ponta lost any legitimacy to be in any governmental office.
In the German MP’s view, the long queues in front of the embassies and consulates were not mere accidents, but “the result of a deliberate decision which prevented Romanians living abroad from voting,” he said, underlining that PSD strategists knew very well that Victor Ponta had no chance to be voted by the Romanian Diaspora.
On the other hand, Krichbaum says these queues are also a sign of change. “I personally spoke to several Romanian youngsters at the Embassy in London and at the Consulate in Stuttgart. These young men have known Europe, its values and opportunities and they would like these values to apply in their country, too. They cast their vote for the rule of law, for democracy, for equal opportunities in the eye of law and they voted against corruption, nepotism and political lies,” the German politician also said.
Krichbaum asked once again these voting incidents to be approached at the European level, stating they could be also tackled in Bundestag. “The European Commission must insist on a close investigation of the events. Sabotaging the vote represented a clear breach of the European citizens’ rights. This should not remain without consequences,” Krichbaum concluded.
Basescu: Ambassadors not to blame
On the other hand, President Basescu also took his stand on this topic, arguing Romanian ambassadors to UK, France, Italy, Spain and Germany had asked for more polling stations, so they are unobjectionable. “All those ambassadors have asked the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs to increase the number of the polling stations, also making out a case for it. I would like Romanians to know that ambassadors have correctly informed on the need for extra polling stations (…),” the Romanian president said. “If it is someone to blame it was not our ambassadors,” he added. His statement comes after President-elect Klaus Iohannis have asked him on Monday to consider recalling ambassadors to those countries where Romanians were queuing to cast their vote on November 2 and November 16.
In another train of thoughts, he warned that the new nominated Foreign Minister, Mihnea Motoc has to be revoked from the position of ambassador to EU before taking over Foreign Ministry portfolio and that PM Ponta must countersign the revocation decree.