Former President Ion Iliescu Says Current President Traian Basescu Needs To Polish His Governing Style

Social Democrat Party honorary president Ion Iliescu, also former Romanian president, yesterday said in a television show that the current head of state Traian Basescu should polish his executive style if he wanted to play a constructive role in leading the country.

"He should not steer the governmental team as if he were a shepherd herding around his flock," Iliescu said to an Antena 3 television show.

Iliescu said he was annoyed most by Basescu's meddling into the working of the ruling coalition.

"I hope he will not continue in doing so, because he runs the risk of undermining the unity and the clarity of the executive's actions," Iliescu added.

He also said that his party agreed to an alliance with the Democrat Liberal Party "to forge a majority in parliament that would be able to fend away the destructive influence Basescu has over the democrat-liberals, as their former party president still strongly linked to them."