The leadership of the PNL and the PSD are going to have a new discussion on Wednesday regarding the merger, the last scenario negotiated and for which a decision will be made is the joint organization of the European and local elections, but also a joint list for the European Parliament, they claim the “Truth” sources.
Nicolae Ciucă and Marcel Ciolacu PHOTO Mediafax
A first discussion was on Sunday, between the presidents of the two parties. According to “Adevărul” information, it was only discussed to bring the local ones together with the European parliamentarians, on June 9, and the joint PSD-PNL list would be negotiated in the next period. Moreover, the liberals are preparing a National Political Bureau for Wednesday, in which to validate both the merger and the joint list for the European Parliament. In the meeting of those in the leadership of the parliamentary group from the Chamber, the general secretary of the formation, Lucian Bode, informed the liberals of the status of the discussions in the Coalition, according to “Adevărul” sources. At the local level, there will be specific understandings in terms of alliance policy, i.e. the support of a common candidate for mayors who are not currently with PSD or PNL. There will not be a decision to oblige the collaboration of the PSD with the PNL, by decision from above, at the county level.
Wednesday was chosen because, on Monday and Tuesday, Nicolae Ciucă is away on an official visit to Spain. Also, for the moment, PSD and PNL leave aside the topic of a possible joint presidential candidate, the subject will be reopened after the European Parliament, when the strength of the two parties, the balance of power, and the internal stability of each will be clear .
The variant of a joint list is seen as a concession made to the PSD, for agreeing to the merger. Therefore, the PNL is associated with the PSD name, despite the public statements in which they aim to distance themselves as much as possible from the social democrats, but at the same time they want to take advantage of the collaboration with their governing colleagues. At the same time, PSD secures the stability of the government and is one step away from paving the way for a common candidate for the head of state.
PSD dominates the key functions
In the PSD, there is still the perception that the liberals should give in and agree to support a social-democratic presidential candidate, because a merger helps especially those from Ciucă's party. And the only position with negotiation potential was that of future president. Because those from the PSD currently have the prime minister, and are likely to have it after December 2024, given that they are favorites in the elections and can quickly make alliances that gather a parliamentary majority. Also, PSD can make it easier for a future mayor of the Capital, because their representative can cause problems for Nicușor Dan. Also, the European commissioner is anyway appointed by the Government, so by Marcel Ciolacu, in the summer.
Last but not least, PSD now controls the forum where the most sensitive topics end up, the Chamber of Deputies, where Alfred Simonis is interim. At the Chamber of Deputies, topics related to electoral legislation, budget, administration or the Criminal Codes reach the decision-making body.
