Deputy PMs with Extended Powers Vs. A Decision Making Body Superceding the Executive

The coalition leaders meet at the beginning of this week to negotiate the protocol that will set the terms of their cooperation. The National Liberal Party - Democrat Party Alliance issued a list of these terms to its partners, but then the Democrat Union of Hungarians in Romania stated that it had its own version, which granted extra-powers to the deputy PMs.

Marko Bela, the president of the DUHR, said Saturday at Targu Mures that he received the proposals of the NLP-DP Alliance, but that DUHR has proposals of its own to make. Marko said that the DUHR proposals will deal with the way the coalition will work and the decision making process.

"We will settle who, how and in what fora will assemble to solve issues, and if they are to be settled inside or outside the Executive branch. I would prefer for all issues to be settled inside the Executive, since we have our own deputy PMs which can coordinate things," said Marko.

The way disputes will be solved by the coalition is the most important point in the protocol, besides those that deal with the way the Executive will get support in Parliament from the parties in the coalition.

For their part, the Romanian Humanist Party will state its observations regarding the draft protocol, said Codrut Seres, vice-president of the RHP. The RHP will support in Parliament the laws promoted by the Executive led by Calin Popescu Tariceanu, particularly the laws relevant for the small and medium sized companies, said Bogdan Pitigoi, spokesman for RHP, on Antena 1 television station.

The draft for the protocol of the NLP-DP Alliance goes along the lines the alliance was put up, explained Bogdan Olteanu, minister for the relationship between the Executive and the Parliament. The protocol will settle the technical details regarding decision making mechanisms and solving of potential conflicts among the three partners in the coalition. In effect, a Coalition Council will be founded, that will be the decision making forum. The protocol will also decide on how parties will cooperate on governmental, parliamentary and county levels.

According to sources in the NLP-DP Alliance the protocol will be valid for four years, though the initial draft set no time limit. The document might also decide on forming coalition majorities at county level, wherever that may be possible.