In a videoconference addressing PSD leaders, PM Ponta has attacked his run-off opponent Klaus Iohannis saying he’s being supported by Zsolt Szilagyi “who wants to pull Transylvania apart”.
With approximately 10 per cent ahead of Iohannis, PM Ponta is already making plans for shaping the new government. The Prime Minister said on Tuesday, after the coalition meeting, that his proposition for the PM position is ex-PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu. Ponta added that Tariceanu will be able to guarantee that the principles underlying USL will be continued in 2015 and 2016.
The PM also said that he’s not excluding the possibility of having a technocrat prime minister, such as Florin Georgescu. Victor Ponta underscored that he is taking into account the premiership variant of George Maior as well, at the same time reaffirming that his “primary choice” is Tariceanu.
On Monday evening he was eyeing three names for this position. Thus, present in a show at Romania TV, the PM stated that he will advance the ruling coalition a short name list that he considers working with as President. The show’s guests have presented him images with ex-PM Tariceanu, current head of SRI Maior and former SIE head Melescanu, Ponta replying he has worked well with all three of them. Later in the day, Ponta announced that Melescanu will be part of his team at Cotroceni Palace, following to become presidential adviser on national security issues.
Ponta also said that on Tuesday starting 5 p.m. he will have a discussion with the representatives of the ruling coalition and will launch the invitation of USL’s remake with Tariceanu’s party.
Stinging Iohannis
PSD leader Victor Ponta has launched on Tuesday a series of attacks against his opponent in the presidential run-off Klaus Iohannis, but not exclusively against him. He seems to be upset also with foreign politicians and other individuals “who mocked Romania in 2012”. “I want to announce you that once started the electoral campaign I want to be beside you within a unity tour of Romania. I will go in Moldova, I will go in Transylvania, in Banat, Oltenia, Dobrogea, Muntenia, of course, as I want to talk about Romanians and about Romania. Iohannis is a thing and I don’t want to talk about things and I don’t want us to receive again orders from abroad on how to live in our country, from EPP and other individuals who mocked Romania in 2012,” said Ponta, adding that we know the best way for Romania and that their orders and the disdain they manifest towards Romanians “is something we will not accept anymore”.
The statement comes after EPP President Joseph Daul urged the Romanian parties which are members of the European Popular Party (EPP), i.e. PDL, PNL, PMP, UDMR and PN?CD, to support Klaus Iohannis in the run-off, himself assuring the mayor of Sibiu of his support.
Also on Tuesday, PM Ponta has declared in a videoconference with the PSD territory leaders that he is a Romanian addressing the Romanians and that Iohannis is supported by Zsolt Szilagyi (PPMT), who “wants to pull Transylvania apart”. Zsolt Szilagyi, who ran for Presidency from PPMT, has replied Ponta on the fact that he is supporting Klaus Iohannis in the runoff, saying that Ponta’s statements are “off his rocker” and that the Prime Minister is trying “to manipulate public opinion through lies and falsehoods”.
Who’s supporting Ponta
Melescanu announced on Tuesday his support for Victor Ponta in the run-off, adding that a key factor for this decision was the firm belief that together they will apply a politics in favor of Romania’s security and of a sustainable economic development.
Tariceanu has also implied that he is supporting PM Ponta, saying that his only goal at this point is to win the finals, on November 16, and “to avoid any risk that Basescu regime to perpetuate, through interposed people, meaning through Mr. Iohannis”.
UNPR Secretary General Neculai On?anu and PRM leader Corneliu Vadim Tudor have also presented, in a press conference, the protocol for supporting Ponta in the run-off, Vadim noting that his demarche has nothing to do with the support offered by UDMR to the current premier.
ACL presidential candidate Klaus Iohannis reacted on Tuesday evening regarding the protocol between UNPR and PRM for supporting PM Ponta in the run-off, saying that it should be a reason for taking a deep thought if the governmental alliance restores the red quadrilateral, referring to the protocol signed between the two political parties. He affirmed that Victor Ponta “seems to be a bit desperate in his public appearances” and that he makes “all sorts of false declarations, which are called lies, namely that he would want to cut pensions”.
Iohannis also stated: “I don’t conceive Romanians’ votes to be traded as a commodity. Do you want me to start political exchanges, to make promises to whomever that I am going to make him premier in reserve?”, adding that he will not negotiate with the candidates who came out of the race in order to be supported in the run-off.
Basescu possibly losing his presidential retirement benefits
In the aforementioned show from Monday evening, at Romania TV, Ponta said that he thinks it might be the right thing to do for President Traian Basescu, who violated the Constitution many times and cut many pensions, to not complete his entire term so that he does not receive a pension for the President position. He also mentioned that if he could avoid a political crisis he would do it. Asked what President Basescu should do in order to get suspended again, Ponta answered: “He should severely violate the Constitution”, adding that the current head of state is constantly violating the Constitution “little by little”.
In another trail of thoughts, PM Ponta also said that he intends to amend the current law so that the former heads of state who have already received a publicly financed home should not receive another one, specifying that Basescu’s home on Mihaileanu street belongs to the Romanian state.