Update – The PSD Executive Committee has decided on Friday that the party Chair and the Secretary General are to be elected by the Congress, with two articles of the statute to be amended, social-democrat sources say.
In order to amend the two articles, other two articles need to be repealed, the same sources say.
The Executive Committee has also decided to start gathering signatures for the social-democrat candidate for President of Romania on August 11.
PSD Youth leader, Gabriel Petrea, running for Secretary General, said he hopes the best person wins and that PSD will be more united after the elections at the Congress on Saturday.
Incumbent Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici has withdrawn the candidacy for Executive President. Marius Dunca, who initially wanted to run for Secretary General, has also withdrawn candidacy, ziare.com informs.
Liviu Plesoianu’s candidacy was validated, and he said at the end of the sitting that he was expecting this decision.
The PSD leadership has gathered at the Baneasa offices on Friday, at 12.00h, for the National Executive Committee which is to validate the candidacies filed on Wednesday. The party is divided when it comes to the way of electing the Executive President and the Secretary General. Incumbent Executive President Viorica Dancila, Prime Minister, supported by some local leaders such as Marian Oprisan, want the Executive Committee to appoint them, other branches support the idea that these leaders are appointed by the Congress, according to the party statute, hotnews.ro reports.
Viorica Dancila has denied on Friday telling the party members she would resign if she is not elected at the helm of PSD. “In no circumstances,” she said.
PSD Vrancea leader Marian Oprisan argued on Friday that the party worked well when the Secretary General and the Executive President were appointed by the Executive Committee, as they need to be with the party permanently, to deal with the party problems.
However, he said plainly that “the PSD Vrancea leadership supports Mrs. Dancila for party Chairwoman.”
Former Vice-Premier Paul Stanescu said he would attend the Congress on Saturday, but will not cast the vote. “I will not vote. My colleagues from Olt County will vote according to their conscience,”Stanescu said.
PSD Maramures President Gabriel Zetea said on Friday, before the Executive Committee, that rules should not be changed during the game. He said he does not agree with changes in the last minute. “I don’t believe this will happen. I’ve heard there are proposals to amend the statute. I will not support such changes. I don’t believe it is normal to change the rules during the game,” Zetea said.
Candidacies:
- For party Chair: Viorica Dancila, Șerban Nicolae (PSD Senators’ leader), Ecaterina Andronescu (PSD Vice-President), Liviu Pleșoianu (PSD Deputy), Ilie Rotaru and Cătălin Stochiță.
- For Executive President: Daniel Suciu (Minister for Regional Development), Eugen Teodorovici (Finance Minister), Daniel Florea (District 5 mayor) and Sorin Bota (PSD Deputy).
- For Secretary General: Marius Dunca (PSD Brașov leader, supported by Viorica Dăncilă), Gabriel Petrea (TSD – leader of PSD Youth), Felix Stroe (PSD Constanța leader), Codrin Ștefănescu, Mihai Fifor (PSD spokesman) and Rodica Nassar (PSD Vice-President).
The Extraordinary Congress will take place on Saturday, at Sala Palatului, as of 11.00h.