Traian Basescu Goes back to the People’s Theme by Attacking the HPR

In the interview published yesterday by the "Adevarul" daily newspaper, President Traian Basescu said he was a "supporter" of the immediate anticipated elections "in order to get rid of an immoral solution named HPR (the Humanist Party in Romania - n.e.).

THE NEXT STEP. By the end of this month, Traian Basescu "will also choose" one of the Executive’s meetings for him to take part in.

For the question regarding his future decisions in the anticipated elections matter, in case that the present Cabinet cannot obtain the Parliament’s approval for its important laws due to its unstable majority, Traian Basescu answered he is a supporter of the anticipated elections and that, in fact, the Government passes through hard times now. The reason found by the President for this is the one of "getting rid of an immoral solution named HPR". "Even if, due to my constitutional obligations, I negotiated with all the parties for the formation of a majority, and I did it by adding HPR to it, the Prime Minister deals very badly with a party that was the ally of SDP (the Social Democrat Party) in the electoral campaign and that, at the time being, is demanding for prefectures. It is very hard for Calin Popescu Tariceanu to explain to the electorate and to the two parties forming the Alliance the way in which one could name as prefect a member of a party that used to be a very hostile enemy during the electoral campaign. The same party supported the nominations of Nicolae Vacaroiu and Adrian Nastase as presidents of the two chambers. First of all, HPR must repair this error in order to become trustful".

President Traian Basescu is trying to suggest that HPR could demonstrate their loyalty by supporting the candidates the J.T. (Justice and Truth) Alliance proposed for the leadership of the two Chambers. "If HPR is to be a loyal ally of the Alliance, we should start the Parliamentary procedures for the change of the two presidents of the Chambers". Of course, it had been an important thing for us to make the Government valid, but I think Mr. Tariceanu will have to discuss the collaboration very seriously in order to bring it to a fair-play level for the parties that form the Alliance", stated Basescu. Asked about the conditions necessary for the anticipated elections, the chief of the state sustained that the procedure can start "in crisis situations". "We are not in such a situation for the time being, and it doesn’t have to appear as long as the Government is able to reach its goals, but, if you ask me, I am the supporter of the immediate anticipated elections in order to get rid of an immoral solution named HPR. It is a political solution, which I negotiated due to the need of installing a Government, but, for me, it has a lack of morality. At that time, I considered having a Government more important. This allowed taking the first signal-measures that would have effects in 2005. This was a priority that had to be made possible and, if Mr. Tariceanu prefers the anticipated elections, he will have my entire support."

THE GOVERNMENT, PUSHED FROM THE BACK. Another serious statement of the President is the one that the Executive cannot suffer from the chief of the state stimulating it towards one direction or another. When the reporter suggested that this would mean that the Government would be pushed from the back, Basescu replied: "And do you think this means any harm for it? I said I would involve as President". He justified his "orders" to the Government regarding the fiscality decrease, the prefects’ naming and the pensions’ re-calculation by saying these were the objectives he supported during the electoral campaign. "They had a real contribution for my success. I cannot forget that the Alliance is in the Government because I supported the issues the Government should have. I didn’t run away from these things when I became President. These measures are wanted by the people and, as President, I communicate to the Government the Romanian society’s points of view. I believe there is nothing bad or unconstitutional in this", explained Basescu.

FUSION. Basescu sustained that NLP (the National Liberal Party) and DP (the Democrat Party) must merge: "I support this solution, at least emotionally, and "no" would mean a lie from me. I will try to be a President of all the Romanians, but I strongly think that something should happen. I think the fusion should occur. There must only be one party. After the NLP and DP congresses from now, February, March, May should be the period for the parties to consider the fusion solution and make a decision. The agenda of these congresses must contain this issue".

TRAIAN BASESCU QUIBBLES

Yesterday, President Traian Basescu avoided, at first, confirming the statements he made for the "Adevarul" newspaper. Before one of his meetings with the GPS (Guard and Protect Service) leaders, which happened yesterday, Traian Basescu has been asked by the journalists about the reasons for him wanting to get HPR out of the Governing scheme. He started to laugh when he heard the question. "Who told you that? Why should I want that?", was Basescu’s only reply for the journalists. But, at the end of the meeting with the GPS leaders, Basescu confirmed the statements he made in the interview, saying that they weren’t a threat for HPR, but "a sincere answer to one of the journalist’s questions". The chief of the state said that all his answers were sincere statements and "the point of view of Traian Basescu, the President of Romania". He said that, as President, he wants the Government "to reach its goals". "And I wouldn’t want the negotiations between the parties governing to diminish my credibility and the Alliance’s credibility. I would like the Government to start working and end the stupid negotiations regarding the prefects’ naming", the chief of the state also said. He asked for "decency" from the parties. "I don’t believe that I can afford losing my credibility by altering the results of the elections, by naming as leaders of some districts politicians against whom I fought during the electoral campaign. It would mean defying the electorate", said Basescu. He denied begging the HPR president, Dan Voiculescu, to take part in the Government. "There is no "please" in my vocabulary. A president asks", stated Basescu. Asked about his actions in case his signal is not taken into consideration, he answered: "in case there will be someone to take into consideration the President’s signal, I will be pleased. In case it won’t be taken into consideration, I’ll make sure I will be pleased."