Opposition decides Bucharest City Hall candidate

Out of three probable scenarios, Social Democrats (PSD) chose a fourth on Friday: the party candidate for the Bucharest Mayor seat will be Cristian Diaconescu, former Foreign Minister and PSD vice president. The session of the Executive Committee begun with other three favorites: former Transport Minister Miron Mitrea, Bucharest 5th district mayor Marean Vanghelie and PSD senator dr. Sorin Oprescu. Cristian Diaconescu was voted for unanimously.

Mitrea refused to run against Sorin Oprescu, sources say. On the other hand, Oprescu doesn’t seem to have changed his mind on running as independent.

On Thursday night, several PSD leaders met with Sorin Oprescu, but negotiations failed, the senator announcing that he will not withdraw from the race and that he wishes to see what kind of support he still has in the party.

The leaders replied that the senator sacrifices the interests of the party for his own will and that the campaign resembles blackmailing techniques.