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Traian Băsescu, the biased arbiter in the fight between Boc and Blaga for the helm of PDL

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12.05.2011, 23:37 50

Autumn of 2000. In front of an enthusiastic crowd, Petre Romanlaunches his candidature for the presidential elections. TraianBăsescu is the one who introduces the candidate. "Petre, you're thebest!" Băsescu shouts out, waving his hands in the air. In thespring of next year, Petre Roman was to be removed from the helm ofPD (Democratic Party) by the same Băsescu. Now it was Băsescu'stime to shine. Supporting Emil Boc for leader of PDL (rulingDemocratic Liberal Party, former PD), Băsescu shows he has notmanaged even six years into his presidency to separate himself fromhis former party, which he continues to try to control. The partyhas the same problem: it cannot tear itself away from TraianBăsescu, the man who secured it major political victories.

PDL tomorrow elects its president for the next four years. Ithas a choice between its current president, Premier Emil Boc and"bulldog" Vasile Blaga, PDL's secretary general. Emil Boc is a manwho won two terms as mayor of Cluj, in 2004 and 2008, sacrificinghis position one year later to become premier after TheodorStolojan went back on his decision to accept premiership for thesecond time, having been the first to be awarded the mandate toform the Government. Vasile Blaga is a politician who lost astrategic battle to become mayor of Bucharest in 2008, but wasbehind all of Traian Băsescu's victories. The third candidate,Theodor Paleologu, has no chance of winning.

Traian Băsescu will be present at the meeting of thedemocratic-liberals. Will his presence put pressure on thedelegates to vote for Emil Boc? It's difficult to say.

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