PNL vice-president Gigel Știrbu accused Marcel Ciolacu of preparing an alliance of PSD with AUR after the elections and argued by the vote given by AUR councilors in the election of CJ Olt vice-presidents. And the liberal administration announced, instead, that it will negotiate with AUR the majority at CL Slatina.
Deputy Gigel Știrbu says that, despite Marcel Ciolacu’s repeated statements regarding the exclusion of an alliance with AUR to govern after the elections, PSD would prepare, throughout the country, agreements with the Alliance for the Union of Romanians and even that PSD would bring votes for GOLD with the goal of taking George Simion to the 2nd round.
“Last week, at the County Council, the validation of the county councilors took place, the County Council was established and the elected president of the County Council was sworn in. What made me think is the fact that I saw a new local government coalition, formed by the Social Democratic Party with those from AUR. As you know, the AUR people voted en-fanfare with their new colleagues from the PSD, thus coming into existence PSD-AUR alliance at the level of Olt county. What happened in Olt county is not an isolated case. It is at this moment, we can say, a unitary practice at the level of the entire country, in most county councils, where the PSD, possibly even if it had a majority, as in the case of Olt, or where it did not have a majority, it constituted the majorities with those from the Alliance for the Union of Romanians”, said Știrbu, who is the head of PNL Olt, in a press conference organized in Slatina.
What happened, the liberal politician added, would only confirm that the information that appeared in the public space about “Hrebenciuc-type” agreements Qbetween the two parties are real.
“They told me they had a directive to give votes to George Simion”
Știbu later accused Marcel Ciolacu, referring to the latter’s statements, during the televised debate on Antena 3 CNN, that “one talks and the other smokes”.
“The president of the Social Democratic Party, Mr. Marcel Ciolacu, said that he will not form an alliance with AUR. Well, should I tell Mr. Ciolacu that one talks and the other smokes? (…) It is clear that there are discussions for a further governing alliance between the two parties, it is clear that most of those I spoke to from PSD Olt, and not a few mayors, even a large number of mayors, they said that they have a directive to vote for George Simion, because their only chance to win the Presidency of Romania is for George Simion to enter the 2nd round, repeating the scenario from the 2000s”. Știrbu also said. He later returned to the topic, stating that he knows from PSD mayors that they each have the task of securing 20 votes/locality, votes to collect from family and friends, for AUR (see video).
Gigel Știrbu (center) accuses PSD of colluding with AUR PHOTO: Alina Mitran
However, given the composition of the new council, the social-democrats did not need the AUR votes for the election of vice-presidents of the Olt County Council. Out of 32 county councillors, PSD has 20, PNL has seven, and AUR has five.
The same thing does not happen in the Slatina local council, which has not yet been constituted. According to the result recorded in the 2024 Local Elections, PSD has ten mandates out of 21, PNL has nine, and AUR has two mandates and will tilt the balance between the parties that still jointly govern Romania.
Mayor Mario De Mezzo claims that, in Slatina, he will form an alliance “with the people, not the parties”declaring on several occasions that he is willing to offer a post of deputy mayor for AUR. He will resort to such a negotiation because “an alliance with PSD is excluded”.
“I think it is important to respect the will of the people. And the people decided in these elections that the National Liberal Party should have nine councilors, the PSD should have ten and AUR should have two. From my point of view, an alliance with PSD is out of the question, because everything that is harmful in Slatina today is caused by this toxic PSD. In Slatina and Olt county. Until the PSD finds a way to genuinely reform itself, we have nothing to talk about. In this context, because a majority is needed in the local council to pass projects, to do things in Slatina, the only ones I can make an alliance with are the two fellow councilors from AUR. Because stability is needed in the local Council. And I, as I declared, make an alliance with the people and not with the parties”, declared the mayor of Slatina, Mario De Mezzo.
