Former Romanian PM and party leader Tariceanu leaves Liberals after party withdraws from Government

Former Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu resigned from the National Liberal Party PNL on Wednesday, February 26, the day after the party decided to withdraw from the ruling coalition the Social Liberal Union, and from the Government. Tăriceanu is one of the founders of the National Liberal Party in 1990, so his decision to leave comes after 24 years of activity within the PNL. Tariceanu, who was the Prime Minister between 2004 and 2008 and the leader of PNL between 2005 and 2009, but who did not hold any position in the union Government, said the PNL should have not withdrawn from the ruling alliance. Before announcing his resignation, the openly criticized the PNL management for the decision, which was made via open vote in the party's representative meeting. Tariceanu also spoke to the current Prime Minister, the Social Democrat Victor Ponta, in a meeting which lasted about an hour. The liberal has asked the PNL leader Crin Antonescu to push the PSD to keep all their promises, including keeping all PNL members in central and local state structures, supporting joint candidate lists for the European Parliament, and supporting a liberal candidate for the presidency. PNL has decided to exit the coalition Government, and wants to join the opposition, at the same time asking the current Prime Minister to resign. This marks the official fracture of the coalition Social Liberal Union USL, made of PNL and the Social Democratic Party PSD. The PM already named interim ministers, and a new Government structure will be presented in the Parliament next week. The Liberals however said they do not plan to approve any Government structure which will be presented next week. editor@romania-insider.com