ROMANIA: One day before Romanians go to the polls to elect a new government, the president and current prime minister continue to squabble and many Bucharest residents say they are unhappy with any of their options

Record ID: 644016

  • Title: ROMANIA: One day before Romanians go to the polls to elect a new government, the president and current prime minister continue to squabble and many Bucharest residents say they are unhappy with any of their options
  • Date: 8th December 2012
  • Summary: BOY SITTING ON MAN'S SHOULDERS AT DIACONESCU RALLY
  • Embargoed: 23rd December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Romania
  • Country: Romania
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAARPIIRDY3QC5TBDPRCZTK0OXT
  • Story Text: One day before Romania goes to the polls in parliamentary elections on Sunday (December 9), likely to be comfortably won by the Social Liberal Union (USL) of Prime Minister Victor Ponta, Bucharest residents remain largely sceptical about their options.
    The vote may end up prolonging a political standoff that has delayed policy-making and raised concerns about the country's IMF-led aid deal.
    The vote is being closely watched because Romania hopes to negotiate a new loan deal from the International Monetary Fund once its current five billion euro funding package expires early next year and investors are keen to see it succeed.
    But any political uncertainty could undermine its chances of brokering such a deal at a time when the economy of the EU's second-poorest country is barely growing and with no sign of progress on serious structural reform.
    Ponta has promised to ease up on austerity measures and to bring salaries in line with those in the EU.

    "I'm absolutely sure that we can raise the minimum salary in order to ensure the level of EU's minimum income for the people working at state institutions, as well in the private sector," said PM Victor Ponta on presenting the Social Liberal Union (USL) coalition programme.
    Ponta's USL earlier in the year tried but failed to kick out right-wing President Traian Basescu in an impeachment referendum. Analysts have said Basescu, a rival of the USL who will nominate the next prime minister, may not choose Ponta, the USL's choice for the job.
    That could delay the formation of a new government and complicate talks over a new deal with the IMF. Any uncertainty would also hit the value of Romanian assets.
    Analysts predict that a bitter feud between Ponta and President Traian Basescu looks set to rumble on regardless of the vote and could delay reforms.

    "USL will get a comfortable majority. It will be a period of small clashes with the president Traian Basescu, but in the end he will designate (Victor) Ponta Prime Minister. From the political point of view, we will have stability but what is worrying me and what really can happen unfortunately is the USL attacking the independence of the judiciary," political analyst Mircea Marian told Reuters TV.
    In the days before the election, politicians showed little signs of showing a conciliatory tone.

    "For seven months they (USL) have only been telling lies. They have only done one thing for Romania, isolated the country," said Daniel Geanta, candidate from the pro-Basescu Right Romania Alliance (ARD) party.
    The leader of Romania's Popular Party, Dan Diaconescu, which is running third in the polls, is trying to woo voters ahead of the by promising to raise wages and pensions, cut the sales tax to ten percent and pay budding entrepreneurs 20,000 euros for starting a new business. The unrealistic promises have propelled the party in opinion polls, after years of needed but harsh austerity under IMF-led aid deals.

    "I hope what happened in December 1989 (Romanian revolution) will happen again. Believe me, if on December 9 (the election day), at 9 pm our victory will be pronounced, the whole country will rise on December 10 and no matter what the results are in other places, the people will understand that they have a lot of power," Diaconescu said at an election rally.
    Diaconescu, whose populist party has poll ratings of about 14 percent, could become the kingmaker, opening doors for lengthy negotiations.

    "On Sunday night I want all you from Craiova, Dolj county, from all over Romania to show Mister Basescu he has to listen to us and to understand that Romania doesn't want him anymore," Prime Minister Victor Ponta told supporters.

    "Unfortunately, after the elections Romanians will realise that everyone who came to ask for their votes was part of a lie and especially the very people who are now in power (USL)," said Traian Besescu.
    With a population of 19 million, Romania has made solid progress in some areas since the 1989 revolution that overthrew communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, but lags regional peers Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic and has lost more than a tenth of its population in a decade.
    The failed attempt by Ponta's USL to impeach Basescu in the summer - a process the EU and the United States criticised for failing to respect the rule of law - also continues to cast a long shadow.
    It raised doubts about political stability and further delayed reforms in a country still struggling to overhaul outdated infrastructure and to recover from a burst housing bubble that left half-finished projects dotting the landscape.
    Basescu, who traditionally names the prime minister, has room for manoeuvre whatever the vote's outcome but must tread carefully to avoid another impeachment attempt.
    If Ponta's USL wins a majority, he could try to split the alliance of leftists and liberals by asking someone else from the same group to take over.
    And if the USL falls short of a majority, he could ask an ally from the Right Romania Alliance (ARD) to form a coalition.
    For many ordinary Romanians it is an election of bad choices.

    "Honestly, I would like to give my opinion but I don't know who [I should vote for], I don't know if any of them deserve my vote. So I will not," Bucharest resident Ruxandra said.

    "Bearing in mind there is a European economic crisis going on, it would be very nice if our future parliamentarians worked harder and thought not only about themselves and their personal interests, but about the collective interests they represent," Alexandru from Bucharest added.

    "There must be a change, we need this change. We suffered too much. Maybe the future will be better for everybody," Ana said.
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