Former liberal leader drops out of Romania’s presidential race

Romanian politician Crin Antonescu, the former leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL), officially announced his withdrawal from the presidential race. He made this statement yesterday, after he resigned as PNL’s president earlier last week. His resignation came following a poor result for PNL in this year’s elections for the European Parliament. Antonescu said that he considers to be the strongest candidate which the Romanian rightist political forces could have for the presidential elections, but that he withdraws from the race because not all rightist forces accept him as candidate. He said that he took this decision to help the rightist political parties find a candidate they all agree on as soon as possible. He also mentioned that the political right must name a common candidate by the end of June or by July 15 at the latest, according to Mediafax newswire. PNL, who got just 15 percent of the votes in the elections for the European Parliament, well below the 20 percent target set by Crin Antonescu before the elections, is seeking a new leadership and new allies to help it confront the Social Democratic Party (PSD) led by current prime minister Victor Ponta. PNL and PSD were partners in the Social Liberal Union (USL) from 2012 to January 2014. The common goal of the union was to fight Romanian president Traian Basescu. The two parties had a deal that Victor Ponta would be prime minister and Crin Antonescu would be president. While Ponta got what he wanted, Antonescu didn’t get to see his dream come true, but only for a two-month period, starting August 2012, when president Basescu was suspended and Antonescu temporarily filled in his seat. He inexplicably decided to get PNL out of the USL at the beginning of the year, following disagreements with Ponta. But while PSD managed to keep its supporters close and won the elections for the EU parliament with 37 percent of the votes, PNL went down. After the elections PNL started negotiations with the Democrat Liberal Party (PDL), which got some 12 percent of the votes. The two are aiming to create a rightist alliance capable of fighting PSD. PNL will also choose a new leadership at the end of the month. The mayor of Sibiu, Klaus Iohannis, has the best chance to become the new PNL president. He is also one of the possible nominees for Romania’s presidency. Former justice minister Catalin Predoiu, who is now PDL vice president, is another possible candidate for the right. Former prime minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu is also hoping to get the nomination. Whoever will be nominated will probably have to face prime minister Victor Ponta, who up until now avoided to make a definite statement whether he will run for president or not. Presidential elections in Romania are programed to take place end November 2014. editor@romania-insider.com