Troubled waters in PSD. Weighty mayor asks for Ponta’s resignation from the president position

Constanta mayor, Radu Mazare (photo) suggested on Tuesday that Victor Ponta should “normally and honorably” resign from the Social Democrat Party’s helm, as he lost the presidential elections.

“It is true, there is a discontent state, there are talks about how the party is managed at central level during this post-electoral period. If you ask me, I am also annoyed that I am pointed at for Ponta’s failure or for Dragnea’s failure. If I was to lose local elections, I would resign the next day and I would definitely not point my finger at the small local branches’ leaders, as they are not to blame for my losing,” Mazare said while at Bucharest Court of Appeal for hearings in his file.

Asked if Victor Ponta should resign from PSD leadership, Mazare said “normally and honorably, yes.”

Mazare mentioned he did not talk to Marian Vanghelie or Mircea Geoana about a possible migration to their upcoming party. “It is possible that many lawmakers will leave PSD for this new party. Anyway, things are not quite all right. I mean, I don’t think it’s normal to blame others when you are losing elections,” Mazare concluded.

In retort, PSD executive president Liviu Dragnea, who was also in charge of Ponta’ s presidential electoral campaign said he respected Mazare’ s opinion but that he had a different one. “I understood and I respect Mr. Mazare’ s opinion. I am not a leader as important as he is in PSD, but, I repeat, I have another opinion about that,” Dragnea said.

On Tuesday, new information emerged related to Mircea Geoana’s intention to set up a new party. Geoana’s adviser is said to have registered the “Independent Social Democrat Party (PSDI)” brand at the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks a week ago.  A same request on the same party name was filed by MP Oana Niculescu Mizil (known as Marian Vanghelie’s lover). Asked to confirm this, Mircea Geoana told Mediafax that PSDI brand is  a working option, among others and that his main political project is called the “New PSD”.

Meanwhile, former Social Democrat MP Sebastian Ghita unveiled he would also set up a new party entitled “Progress Romania”, expressing hope he would gather 25,000 signatures that are necessary to register the party in court.

The media and IT tycoon, with an estimated EURO 130 million fortune, said his new party eyes to attract left-wing youngsters.