Former Prime Minister Victor Ponta also reacts promptly after the publication of the report of the Venice Commission regarding the CCR’s decision to cancel the December 2024 presidential elections, through a message on his Facebook account.
Victor Ponta, about the report of the Venice Commission. Archive photo
“The “Iohannis” System he made a serious mistake; and in vain tries to bide time, hoping to perpetuate itself through Crin, Nicuşor & Co. The world simply changed on January 20; and change is coming to Europe and Romania!”, Victor Ponta begins his plea.
He continues by pointing out fragments and ideas presented in the report of the Vienna Commission, which support his theory.
“1. Decisions to annul election results should be taken by the highest electoral body and decisions should be reviewable by the highest judicial body, constitutional court or specialized electoral court when such a judicial body exists. It should be possible to challenge election results based on violations of electoral rights, freedoms and electoral interests by the state, public and private electoral actors.
2. The power of constitutional courts to invalidate ex officio elections, if any, should be limited to exceptional circumstances and clearly regulated. Thus, The Venice Commission has already established that due to annulment of election results minor irregularities that did not affect the result could make the electoral process more vulnerable or lead to distrust in judicial appeals or lead to lower interest in repeated election cycles and, possibly a lower turnout.
3. Annulment of a part of the election or the election as a whole may be allowed only under very exceptional circumstances and provided that the irregularities in the electoral process to have affected the outcome of the vote. As a general rule, voters must trust that their vote is final. Annulment of part of the election or the election as a whole is justified only in very exceptional circumstances. Affected parties must be given the opportunity to present their views and evidence.
4. The decision-making process on the election results must be accompanied by adequate and sufficient guarantees ensuring, in particular, a fair and objective procedure and a sufficiently reasoned decision based on clearly established facts that prove irregularities that are so significant that they would could influence the outcome, wrote the former prime minister on his Facebook page.
People’s comments
In just 4 hours, his comments have garnered over three hundred comments from his followers.
“The ballots (the ones you stamp) are very bad. There needs to be a box there called “None of the candidates represent me”, and if the people don’t like any of them… you don’t have anyone to choose…, you stamp that box. If 50% voted there, the entire electoral ballot is canceled and another one is organized, with other candidates. Those candidates no longer have the right to run”, someone suggests.
“What advice do you give to Ciolacu in the given situation??????”, someone else asks him, without, however, receiving an answer from the former prime minister.
“Did you see what happened to Nicolas Sarkozi, for covertly financing the campaign by Libya? It is possible that CG is in the same situation”, writes a lady.
“What changes man. In 2014, he was the first to say: “The Venice Commission recommends. Do not decide for the justice of a state” Now?!”, another person apostrophizes him, while also receiving congratulations: “Congratulations, Mr. Ponta… For publicly acknowledging the coup!!! We want round 2 back. These 2 candidates were voted correctly and it is their merit to enter the 2nd round… even if it doesn’t suit you! This is democracy and freedom! We ask the prosecutors of this country to investigate and wash the Shame off the face of Romania. We are the laughing stock of the world!”
