Government today schedules elections on November 26

The Executive will adopt today a decision settling the date for legislative elections and for the first round of presidential elections for November 26, though PDSR (Party of Social Democracy) yesterday asked the prime minister not to adopt this measure without the opposition being consulted.

Premier Isarescu and leaders of the ruling coalition met on Tuesday evening and decided, in the absence of the opposition, that the round should take place on November 26 and that the electoral campaign should last 45 days, 15 less as compared to the previous elections, of 1996.

Sources within the Government state the ordinance related to the reduction of the electoral campaign will not be adopted today, either, though it is ready.

“I do not recall any opposition party having been consulted about the date of elections four years ago. Even in case we or they should reject this date, the Government will be the one to issue the decision,” PNL (Liberal Party) chairman Mircea Ionescu-Quintus, stated following the meeting with Isarescu.

PN?CD (Peasants Party) chairman Ion Diaconescu stated in his turn that he had presented to the premier “the technical elements” supporting the date of November 26, adding he did not know whether the premier should consult the opposition, too.

The Peasants’ leader thought that some of the advantages of this decision were that it avoided an “exaggerated political agitation” and cut down expenditures.

The main opposition party, PDSR, criticised the Government’s decision, saying that “the real reason behind it is the wish of parties currently in power to take advantage of Romania’s national holiday for the electoral campaign” and that “settling the date of elections during a winter period encourages absenteeism, which places currently ruling parties in a favourable position,” reads a statement released by the party.