Mircea Geoană, NATO deputy secretary general, has said that social democrats (PSD), including party leader and Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, have suggested his candidacy for the upcoming presidential elections as an independent backed by PSD, something Ciolacu denies.
While not formally announcing his candidacy, Geoană visited Romania several times last year, discussing the nation’s future and emphasising the necessity for “a robust and ambitious plan for Romania and its citizens.”
Geoană once again declined to confirm his intention to run, saying he would decide after his NATO term ends, during an interview with Digi 24 on Monday evening.
However, he claimed that Ciolacu had proposed his candidacy as an independent with the support of the PSD.
Geoană explained that the PSD will not have enough votes to secure victory in the presidential elections, suggesting the need for a broader appeal across party lines. For the first time, there is a “clear corridor” for a president who is “not dependent on party affiliations”, he said.
His comments were met with irony by Ciolacu.
“After I had asked Geoană (to run), I called Mrs. Șoșoacă (the leader of a pro-Russian party) and proposed to her to be prime minister,” Ciolacu replied on Tuesday.
He added that he had no intention of supporting an independent candidate backed by the PSD.
Geoană’s comments coincide with ongoing discussions between Social Democrats and Liberals about this year’s elections, with a focus on the presidential candidacy.
According to political sources, some PSD leaders insist on Ciolacu’s candidacy, while liberals favour Nicolae Ciucă.
Ciolacu’s popularity lags behind Geoană’s, and if he loses, he fears that he will suffer the fate of other PSD leaders who have lost both the presidential race and the party leadership.
The Social Democrats have not won a presidential election since 2000. Ciolacu has less support than the party, but some Social Democrats are hoping for a repeat of the 2000 elections when their candidate Ion Iliescu won because many voters were frightened by the far-right candidate Vadim Tudor.
While Ciolacu has no experience in foreign policy, Mircea Geoană was foreign minister and ambassador to the US.
(Cătălina Mihai | Euractiv.ro)
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