Fight for second place in the presidentials kicks off

Mugur Isarescu is to announce his decision on whether he would run for the presidentials around August 15, sources close to the Premier said on Wednesday. However, political analysts believe that Isarescu’s options will not be made public before September, at any rate not before the Prime Minister is sure of the political support he can count on. In his turn, Theodor Stolojan will not make any decision before knowing for sure that he benefits from significant political support, analysts say.

According to sources close to the Premier, quoted by Mediafax, Isarescu would like to run independently but supported by a credible political coalition. The same sources say that Isarescu is afraid of being included in various political combinations that might affect the efficiency of the government he is in charge of. Even before Isarescu officially announces his decision, the parties that already had their own candidates – PD (Democrat Party) and ApR (The Alliance for Romania) – started attacking him. Analysts believe that these attacks will become even more frequent once the current Premier officially gets involved in the presidential race.

“These attacks are normal if there is a candidate who outruns the others,” analyst Dan Pavel says.

“For the moment it is not obvious which coalition will support Isarescu. It might be CDR (the Democratic Convention) or a larger right-wing alliance including the Liberals as well. Until these things are cleared up Isarescu will not make any move,” political analyst Stelian Tanase said. He maintains that the ideal solution would be for Isarescu to run independently and get the support of the civil society and of four parties at most. For the time being, beside PN?CD (Peasants’ Party) and UFD (the Union of Right-wing Forces), only UDMR (the Democrat Alliance of Hungarians from Romania) yesterday announced that it might support Isarescu in the presidentials. As far as the second round is concerned, a final decision will be made on September 9, when UDMR Representatives’ Council is to meet.

As for Stolojan being included in an electoral formula together with the current Premier, this is a possible and probable solution, but it also depends on agreements concluded by political parties, Tanase considers. In his turn, political analyst Dan Pavel says that the President-Premier tandem, in this case Isarescu-Stolojan, is an “unrealistic idea,” as a party that wins the presidentials doesn’t necessarily have to win parliamentary elections as well. “If Isarescu becomes President and Stolojan is supported by the Liberal Party for the position of Premier, it is not at all certain that PNL will get most of the votes,” in order to impose its own choice for premiership, as it will have to deal with a hostile legislative majority, Dan Pavel maintains.

According to the latest polls, the Isarescu-Stolojan “duo” comes second in the electorate’s preferences, following the Iliescu-Nastase couple.