Ex-president Traian Basescu joins PMP, contemplates party’s name change

Former president Traian Basescu informed in a press conference on Friday that he joined the People’s Movement Party (PMP), adding that the most important reason he got back to politics is to defend his presidential mandates.

Basescu argued he is facing a denigration campaign and that the main reason for getting back to politics is his wish to defend his two presidential terms. The former head of state also said that he would be an extremely inconvenient Opposition politician, and one of his goals would be defending the human rights.

“If I cannot endow a Democrat Liberal Party (editor note: PDL, which merged with the National Liberal Party), I will endow a popular movement,” Basescu explained.

The PMP Congress electing the new party chairman will take place on October 24. According to sources to local media, the party will also change its name from the ‘People’s Movement Party’ to ‘People’s Movement’ and its logo as well to opt for a logo similar to the one of the European People’s Party.

“We are preparing the congress on October 24, it is very important it should be a congress of relaunching the party (…) I don’t like the PMP name. Of course, I am consulting all of you, I think that the People’s Movement is enough, without adding that P (e.n. from party)”, Traian Basesu explained.

Klaus Iohannis’ predecessor informed a week ago that he would join the People’s Movement Party by October 10, arguing he wants to share his experience to a new party that wouldn’t have been involved in the transition’s compromises.

Asked if the PMP Statute allows a potential candidacy for the president position, Basescu answered it hasn’t decided yet on that.

“I haven’t come to the decision to be the party’s president, as my target is to build the party starting from my experience, which doesn’t mean I have to be the executive authority of the party. My political expertise is enough. I want to create a third political force, a new party which had not been involved in the transition’s compromises, that’s why I am reticent to hold the first position. What new signal would be if you take over the highest position in the party?” Basescu argued.