Romanian political stage reaches boiling point

Romania’s biggest parliamentary parties convoked extraordinary leadership sessions on Thursday to establish their position in the all-out war apparently under way after President Traian Basescu accused PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu of abuse yesterday, just to become the target of similar attacks from the head of government.

The permanent board of the Social Democratic Party-PSD, the main opposition group in Romania, convened in a special session this morning to establish its strategy on how to deal with the president-prime minister conflict.

Senate speaker and PSD member Nicolae Vacaroiu said prior to the meeting that a decision would be made whether to submit a motion against both the prime minister and the head of state.

That comes after President Basescu showed on Wednesday a letter sent to him by PM Tariceanu two years ago, in which he is asked to intervene in a judicial case launched against oil mogul Dinu Patriciu, known for his close relationship with the PM.

Basescu, a Democrat, said it was then that he lost his trust in Liberal Tariceanu but kept the note secret because such a scandal would have threatened Romania’s EU accession efforts at the time.

Tariceanu dismissed that the letter, which is unclearly worded, meant what Basescu understood. But he continued with similar attacks, accusing the president of supporting a group of oligarchs.

Tariceanu’s Liberals also gather for an extraordinary session in the afternoon today after informal talks this morning, to discuss the evolution and set a strategy to counter Basescu’s statements.

The Democratic Party is also due to discuss the serious implications of Tariceanu’s letter, as party leader Emil Boc said.