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Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu said that it might come to snap elections in Romania if the rotation of prime ministers, agreed between PSD and the National Liberal Party (PNL) for May next year, is not observed, or President Klaus Iohannis does not nominate for the office of prime minister the person proposed to him by the social democrats, told Agerpres.
He was asked, on Sunday evening, on private broadcaster Antena 3, if a snap elections scenario is also being analysed by PSD.
"I think snap elections will only happen if this coalition no longer works. I don't see any other political construction that will lead to the political stability necessary in such a period. (...) I think we are serious politicians, I think that we will keep our word and the rotation will take place in May. The President of Romania has the powers to appoint the Prime Minister, but when there is a public agreement, in fact, which I am firmly convinced that the President of Romania also knows about, that this rotation will take place in May, I don't think that this time he will not appoint the person that PSD will decide upon," stated Marcel Ciolacu.
Asked if the head of state okayed the rotation agreed in the coalition, the PSD leader said: "I believe and wish to live in a normal country, where Mr. President Klaus Iohannis would have no authority to decide what the PSD leader and the PNL leader and the UDMR (Democratic Union of Hungarians of Romania) leader and the minorities set down in the protocol."
Ciolacu explained that another scenario in which it might come to snap elections would be if President Iohannis does not accept the PSD proposal for the office of prime minister, as agreed under the protocol of the governing coalition.
In the same context, the PSD leader emphasized that he has very good communication with Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca.
"Almost daily we talk about big issues that are both in the legislative area and in the executive area, so that when the rotation is carried out, we both know what we have to continue doing and what we have assumed as a state. It is for the first time in Romania, since the Revolution, when this happens between two politicians, which is as more surprising as the two politicians are the chairman of PSD and the chairman of PNL. And I'm glad that I have this communication with Mr. Prime Minister," Ciolacu pointed out.
The joint trip with Prime Minister Ciuca to Japan, added the president of the social democrats, is proof of political seriousness and announced that such visits will take place in other countries as well.
Asked about the current "dissensions" in the governing coalition, he pointed out that Romania must be governed.
"We assumed this. I have no problem continuing to assume and I firmly believe that this coalition must work at least until 2024 in the current international context, because otherwise we are mocking Romanians," said Marcel Ciolacu.
