With one year left before the upcoming elections, PNL (National Liberal Party) and PD (Democrat Party) are pushing for an alliance, which would be sealed by September at the latest. However, many local branches of the two parties are reluctant, at best, to this political entity. The gap between central leadership and the territorial leaders is quite obvious: while leaders are thinking of a name for the new alliance, which, according to PD leader Traian Basescu should be concise and meaningful, local leaders want the alliance to be forged after the local elections, that is next June.
Things are not clear as regards the presidency candidate, either. Although, during early discussions with PNL, Traian Basescu stated he was not interested in running for Cotroceni, but for the Bucharest City Hall, he has changed his mind. "I have discussed with Liberal leader Stolojan and the decision regarding the candidate of the alliance, in case the alliance should be created, will be made according to the same principles both parties include in their programmes. Namely, the candidate holding the best position in the electorate's options will be designated by the alliance to be its candidate for the presidential position. The runner-up will probably become the next Prime Minister," Basescu was quoted as saying by Mediafax.
PNL brings up some changes, too. Thus, the party does not rule out the third variant: supporting an independent candidate. "There are two possible candidates for Cotroceni: Traian Basescu and Theodor Stolojan. Yet, a candidate may emerge from outside the two political forces, a candidate who will enjoy the alliance's support. We, the Liberals, have taken this possibility into consideration only theoretically and that is why I cannot give you any names, yet," stated PNL spokesperson Eugen Nicolaescu.
The Liberals have commissioned a poll conduced by CURS. According to the recently released poll, Theodor Stolojan comes second, with 22% of votes, after Adrian Nastase (42%), in the race for Cotroceni. Traian Basescu holds the fourth position with 11% of votes.
Messages issued by the central leadership, saying a PNL-PD alliance would crush PSD during the next elections, do not seem to have got to the local branches. Neither the Liberals, nor the Democrats from the territory have any faith in the new political project. In this respect, they bear in mind both the two parties' different ideology and the experience of the former majority coalition.
PNL member Dinu Patriciu considers an alliance with PD "would be of no use to PNL", while his party peer Viorel Catarama thinks the decision regarding such an alliance should be made after the local elections.
PNL members also speak of a possible merger, but this idea is rejected by the Democrats. mirela.luca@zf.ro
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