Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu declared on Saturday that the calendar of the presidential and parliamentary elections was established in the coalition and that PSD and PNL will have separate candidates. The PSD leader stated that NATO’s deputy general secretary, Mircea Geoană, is not independent, but that the subject of his support in the election for Cotroceni wants to be discussed first within the party.
Ciolacu, asked if he will run for the presidential elections: We will see Photo: Archive
“A tango for two? At the moment we have established a calendar and the fact that we have separate candidacies. I think that all decisions are made after we see the vote of the Romanians, depending on the vote of the Romanians, we will see how we continue, but until then, in my opinion, it makes sense to have a discussion“, said Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, when asked if PSD would like a tandem with PNL in the next elections.
Asked if the fact that Romanians will have to vote three Sundays in a row will not be a problem and cause a low turnout, the PSD leader said “no”. “I am firmly convinced, just as it was in the European and local elections, there will be a large turnout. Romanians want to determine their own destiny. (…) It’s not a mini-holiday (December 1st no) because if we had a deck we would definitely have avoided elections on December 1st. This time Saint Andrew and December 1 fell on Saturday and Sunday, it is a day of celebration and we choose the most important forum of a democratic society, namely the Parliament of Romania“, added Marcel Ciolacu.
Asked if he will run for the presidential elections, Ciolacu replied “We will see”. “I will, together with my colleagues from BPN of PSD, create a calendar. We will definitely start with a National Political Council, where we will make the rules for candidates both for the party and for the position of president, because my mandate and that of my colleagues expires on August 24, according to the party law we must have elections so that the future president to be able to legally sign the documents as party president”, added the social democratic leader.
The PSD President mentioned that procedurally first the BPN, a national political council, is organized, the date of the Congress is set, and from there: “how he will run for the position of president, how to register, what are the rules, if you need support, if the party accepts an independent or not“.
Asked what has changed since February 13, when he said that he could not support an independent in the presidential elections, Ciolacu answered: “Well, nothing has changed. If you are referring to Mr. Geoană, for example, he is not an independent from my point of view“.
Asked if Mircea Geoană is not independent, he could have a negotiation with him due to the fact that he was PSD president, Marcel Ciolacu said that he prefers this discussion to be held first within the party, and they will announce later. “Would you mind letting us have the discussion within the party, and we’ll let you know?“, said the PSD leader.
