Romania presidential debate: ex-president Iliescu about incumbent Basescu's Momma

In an official meeting of the Social Democrats (PSD) to celebrate the victory of the party in the June local elections, former PSD leader, ex-President Ion Iliescu criticized Romania’s President Traian Basescu harshly, Romanian daily Evenimentul Zilei reads on Monday quoting sources within the party. However, Iliescu denied his declarations. Moreover, sources inform that Iliescu named those PSD mayors who won in the country, tycoons. He urged that local tycoons should not be imposed from the center in the upcoming Parliamentary elections.

Iliescu officially declared that he did not use words such as „Your Momma” speaking about incumbent President Basescu, as claimed by the newspaper. He added that he expressed his concern about the methods Basescu used to interfere in the electoral campaign on behalf of the Democrat Liberals.

Constanta’s PSD mayor Radu Mazare, a tycoon in Iliescu’s words, bragged about his unconventional methods used to assure his victory: he said he offered free meals for old ladies every month. Sources within the party declared that he promised he would increase the free meals to get his fourth mandate.