Nastase denies Ruse allegations

PDSR (Party of Social Democracy) president Adrian Nastase yesterday denied an alleged agreement between his party and PD (Democrat Party) leader Traian Basescu and prompted PD members not to link the name of the governing party with PD “electoral campaign.”

“There is no secret agreement between us and Traian Basescu. The issue of PD Presidency election concerns only the members of this party,” said Nastase. He thus rejected PD member Corneliu Ruse accusations according to which Basescu had struck a deal with Nastase regarding the merger of the two parties, provided Basescu was elected PD President, after the PD National Convention scheduled for May.

According to Ruse, Nastase would be elected Romania’s President in 2004 and would allegedly appoint Basescu as Prime Minister. Corneliu Ruse, one of Petre Roman’s supporters, added that PD President considers this scenario “credible.”

“I am asking Mr. Petre Roman to stop involving PDSR in the electoral campaign aimed at electing the new PD president,” Nastase stated yesterday.. PDSR President also rejected the “speculations,” as he deemed the rumours according to which this agreement was concluded last week, when he was present at the City Hall.

PD leader Traian Basescu yesterday refused to comment on allegations brought against him by Petre Roman and his supporters, stating that this is an internal campaign of PD candidates, which should not become a public matter. On the other hand, one of PD top officials, Radu Berceanu, criticised this “negative campaign.”