Heated PSD congress ahead: Executive Committee will approve or reject the candidacies, Liviu Dragnea says. Lots of unhappy contenders

PSD Chairman, Liviu Dragnea, announced on Thursday that the Executive Committee on Friday will approve of reject the candidacies filed by party members and has told the unhappy ones to put an end to the ‘exaggerated scandal’ and to give a thought to the party.

“The Executive Committee on Friday will approve candidacies and reject them, this is the procedure in the party. I don’t know if this exaggerated scandal will do them good, but I believe it would be better for them to think about the party,” Dragnea said.

Dragnea said he supports Viorica Dancila for the position of executive chairman of the party.

The PSD congress will take place on March 10.

“If I rightly recall, they were the ones to support the idea of internal democracy. One of the fundamental principles is the vote. The Executive Committee approved this rule by an overwhelming vote. I don’t know what they have filed for, but I tell them that on Friday the Executive Committee will approve or reject all the files, as this is the procedure in the party,” Liviu Dragnea said.

Several social-democrats have expressed concern over the ‘undemocratic procedure’ set for the congress in terms of running in internal elections. Thursday was the last day for party members to file the candidacies.

Ecaterina Andronescu has filed the candidacy for PSD’s executive chairman (office currently held by Niculae Badalau), saying that there was no need for internal elections, or if so, all positions should have been at stake.

Codrin Stefanescu said on Thursday he will run for the position of secretary general, but he does not know if he would be allowed to enter the congress at Sala Palatului, due to the regulations.

Deputy Catalin Radulescu, aka. ‘the AKM deputy’, said he has filed the candidacy for the position of deputy Chairman, although he is not supported by the county organisation. He accused social-democrats Florin Iordache and Claudiu Manta of being unable to coordinate the parliamentary committees, however they make public statements.

Nicolae Banicioiu said he has filed for the position of executive chairman and he hopes for a fair competition, so that the best one wins, not the one the chiefs want. He has denied the opportunity of the congress.