Under siege, PD tries to buy time

(story to be published in tomorrow’s issue, March 13)

Coalition leaders did not manage on Thursday to reach an accord that would put an end to the political crisis, as PD (Democrat Party) representatives refused to sign any agreement on passing certain laws before the replacement of Victor Babiuc with Sorin Frunzaverde. Petre Roman, Traian Basescu and Bogdan Niculescu Duvaz departed in the middle of negotiations held at Victoria Palace, following the rejection of the PD proposal on a single protocol, stipulating the agreement of the coalition with the change within the Defence Ministry (MApN). Democrats accused their coalition partners of having proposed to them “a bargain devoid of morality.” PD states, within a statement released shortly after the meeting of the leaders by the party’s Political Council, that they would not accept Babiuc replacement to be conditioned upon the adoption of some laws. “The procedure is unfair as some of the laws under parliamentary debate, for instance the law on the restitution of real estate, the electoral law and the law on local public administration, were drafted with the direct contribution of PD representatives and adopted by at least one Chamber with the votes and support of our MPs. “In fact, they tried to create a false image in the eyes of public opinion, in the sense that the Democrat Party allegedly opposes these laws and that it merely plans to get a ministerial position,” reads the statement released by the Democrat Party. Sources within the coalition told us that what upset the Democrats the most during the meeting was the forceful inclusion on the list of legislative priorities of the package of laws on reform within the justice sector, initiated by Valeriu Stoica, and that is to be adopted by the Government’s assuming responsibility. PD went to the meeting of coalition leaders with two accords: the first supported the replacement of Victor Babiuc and the second comprised the laws PD considers as priorities. According to some meeting participants, the laws included by PD within the accord did not comprise modifications of juridical laws supported by Stoica. PD vice-president Radu Berceanu on Thursday accused Valeriu Stoica of limiting the access of citizens to Justice through high costs that legal actions imply. Berceanu added that coalition partners “were right to be fed up with PD’s blackmail, but we are fed up with their blackmail, too”. Vice-president Traian Basescu told us that the Premier could at this moment dismiss Babiuc. “He has the agreement signed by the other leaders of the coalition and the demand filed in by PD, requesting the same thing,” Basescu stated. The party’s Leadership Board met on Thursday evening to issue a decision on PD’s continuing or not to be part of ruling. PD leader Petre Roman ahead of the meeting hinted at the fact that a final decision would be made by a larger leading forum, the National Coordination Council of the party, which would mean that, until this forum is to meet, PD might stop participating in ruling and supporting Government initiatives in Parliament. PD ministers did not attend the Government’s Thursday session. The other parties of the coalition, PN?CD (Peasants’ Party), PNL (Liberal Party), UDMR (Democrat Alliance of Hungarians in Romania), PSDR (Social Democrat Party) on Thursday signed an agreement pledging to support the passing of 9 laws, among which ownership laws, the budget on 2000 and the electoral laws.