After announcing the suspension of discussions related to his presidential candidacy, Crin Antonescu stated that this does not amount to a withdrawal, but that he is waiting for an official decision from the governing coalition.
Crin Antonescu spoke about his presidential candidacy Photo: Archive
Crin Antonescu, the former leader of the PNL, stated on Realitatea Plus that he was not invited to Wednesday’s meeting of the Coalition.
“I wasn’t invited to coalition meeting, I don’t even think it was appropriate to be invited, because it is about political leaders of those formations who are entitled to be present at such meetings“, stated Crin Antonescu.
After announcing that he was suspending himself from the position of candidate of the governing coalition in the presidential elections, Antonescu specified that he took this decision following the unclear positioning of the PSD, which was expressed by voices such as Vasile Dâncu and Victor Ponta.
“When I saw these discussions it seemed normal and civilized to say: «Good, we pause here, it is necessary for you to clarify». I was referring to Vasile Dâncu and Victor Ponta, who recently returned to the PSD, but who was the PSD premier and the president of the party, not to mention that he is also an advisor to the current premier Ciolacu, so a powerful voice in the party“, he also specified, according to the cited source.
Asked if he would withdraw from his position as a presidential candidate if Ponta ran, Antonescu claimed that he would not do so “depending on what Victor Ponta decides to do“.
“I don’t know and I don’t care what Victor Ponta is doing, at most it can be the problem of the party to which his lordship belongs. It would be ridiculous, I am not retiring or running depending on what Victor Ponta is doing. I have a strict interest in this agreement to be a joint candidate related to the official PSD position. I cannot be a representative of a coalition without the PSD taking a statutory decision in this regard. My candidacy has nothing to do with Mr. Ponta and it would be ridiculous if I were to withdraw depending on what Victor Ponta decides to do (…) Obviously, if the PSD does not validate my candidacy, this political agreement expires. Whether or not this agreement stands is not my decision” said Crin Antonescu.
