Several politicians are being tested for the presidential race, which could change the political structure of the country.
The local and European parliamentary elections did not go well either, and the parties also moved on to the next stage, that of establishing candidates for the presidential elections. Already, there is a disagreement between the PNL and the PSD regarding the date of the elections, with the liberals wanting them to be moved to December, while the social democrats want the election of the president to take place in September, according to an agreement in the coalition.
At PNL, the party's president, Nicolae Ciucă, will most likely run for Cotroceni. The decision could be made next week. On Friday, at the end of a meeting that lasted more than six hours, the liberals decided on Friday that they will have their own candidate for the presidential elections.
“I concluded the meeting of the PNL leadership with branch presidents from all over the country. We had an analysis of the results obtained in the local and European parliamentary elections. (…) At the end, we had a discussion related to the perspective of the future elections and, unanimously, all the branch presidents argued that the PNL should have its own candidate in the presidential elections”said Ciucă, after the meeting held at Poiana Braşov.
On the other hand, at PSD, the leaders of the formation are pushing Marcel Ciolacu, considered the performer of this year's elections, to the first position in the state.
From the National Political Council, held at Sâmbăta de Sus, the general secretary of the party, Paul Stănescu, was the first to announce that the PSD will have its own presidential candidate. Later, Marcel Ciolacu reinforced his statement.
“We will not make the decision regarding the presidential candidate, but what I can tell you is that we will not have a common candidate with the PNL”Marcel Ciolacu told his colleagues, according to some political sources.
The PSD president avoided answering if he will assume the presidential candidacy but stated that he will not run if the date of these elections is moved from September to December, as the PNL leaders have suggested in recent days.
“If the elections are in December, I will not run“, he would have said, according to the same sources.
There is also the scenario with the independent Mircea Geoană, who wants to be supported by the PSD, the condition being that Ciolacu remains prime minister.
As for the opposition, the most circulated name is that of Elena Lasconi, who won the City Hall of Câmpulung municipality. She did not clearly state her position.
“A candidacy for the presidency is a very serious matter, we do not play with this, having war on the border and pro-Russian countries in the region. But we have two options on the table for the presidential election. The first option would be Nicușor Dan, but I don't know if he wants to run. I can't say the second option for now, it's about someone possibly independent, we'll see what's the best option”said Elena Lasconi.
A decision in this regard will most likely be taken after the internal elections for the USR leadership.
AUR will go to the presidential election campaign with George Simion. The party will officially announce the candidate this weekend.
