Presidential advisers launch right-wing Popular Movement NGO after Romania's president vows to split from PDL

An adviser to the Romanian president Traian Basescu recently announced the creation on an NGO called Miscarea Populara – the Popular Movement – just days after president Basescu announced he'd part ways with his former party, the Democrat Liberal Party (PDL). Presidential adviser Cristian Diaconescu (in picture) said this is an initiative of the group of presidential advisers and that the Popular Movement, which is structured as an NGO, plans to promote the center – right values, and that is has been long planned as a new socio-political platform. After the PDL leadership elections last weekend re-confirmed incumbent party president Vasile Blaga at the helm of the party, and Elena Udrea, said to be president Basescu's favorite in the race, only came second, political commentators said Basescu is likely to start his own party, as he will end his mandate next year, in 2014. He recently said he will dedicate himself to creating a true right wing solution, with 'honest people'. Ioana Basescu, the eldest daughter of president Traian Basescu, who is a public notary, had filed a request to officially register the name the Popular Movement in 2011, suggesting this is a project which had been shelved until the time was right. Elena Udrea, the former Tourism Minister, who had previously worked with Traian Basescu while he was the Bucharest mayor, said she has not thought about joining the Popular Movement but that many people in the PDL are worried about their party being outside of a right wing project and understand the need to have kept the ties with Traian Basescu. Udrea had contested the result of the leadership vote of the PDL, and, as she came second within a small number of votes of the winner, even asked for a second round of voting, but she later withdrew her appeal. She said she will stay within the PDL and together with Traian Basescu, but she will not join the party's leadership team. editor@romania-insider.com