USR faced accusations of political manipulation by Elena Lasconi, who claimed they orchestrated a "political execution" following an informal vote to support Mircea Diaconu, the Bucharest mayor, in the presidential elections.
Romania's USR Party Shifts Gears, Backs Bucharest Mayor for Presidency
In a surprising move, Romania's reformist party USR has chosen to pull support from their leader, Elena Lasconi, and instead thrown their hat in the ring for Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan in the forthcoming presidential election. This decision, made behind closed doors during an informal political committee meeting, garnered around 75% of the members' votes, as reported by Biziday.ro.
Lasconi, on the other hand, branded the decision as a politically motivated "execution" disguised as party procedure. She argued that the vote, held in an informal body, lacked legitimacy and was devoid of any legal weight.
Despite this internal squabble, USR vice-president Dominic Fritz reported 50 members voted against the motion to endorse Nicușor Dan, with seven abstaining. He emphasized that a significant majority of members believed it was crucial to prioritize Romania's interests over party or personal ambitions. Fritz also suggested that Lasconi is unlikely to make it to the second round, as Nicușor Dan remains the only pro-European candidate with a realistic chance of advancing.
The party ultimately issued an official statement, reinforcing their decision. "This was a tough call, but the right one," they said, referring to the potential of Romania being forced to choose between two anti-European candidates in the second round - George Simion and Victor Ponta. Personal or party interests couldn't outweigh Romania's direction for the future decades, according to USR.
The party further argued that supporting Dan was a mature and necessary step, based on internal polling and conversations with voters. These findings indicated that Lasconi no longer had a viable path to the runoff. Elena Lasconi, however, called the vote an act of political sabotage orchestrated by a "clique" within the party, vowing to take legal action against those she deems responsible.
With the presidential elections due this year, six new candidates have entered the race. Even if Lasconi withdraws her candidacy and ceases active campaigning by May 4, her name will still appear on the ballot.
(Content is richer when you're informed. Learn more about this event here: [1][2])
[1] Save Romania Union's shift in presidential support aims to counter far-right candidates and maintain a pro-European stance
[2] The decision to support Nicușor Dan reflects the party's internal dynamics and priorities, but its legitimacy depends on adherence to established party procedures and democratic mechanisms
- Romania's USR Party has confirmed a policy-and-legislation shift, with electoral abstention from their leader Elena Lasconi and support for Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan in the scheduled presidential election.
- The internal politics of the party, as evidenced by the vote to endorse Dan, have resulted in a significant minority of USR members abstaining or voting against the decision.
- The presidential elections this year will see six new candidates, including Nicusor Dan, who USR believes is the only pro-European candidate with a realistic chance of advancing, as general news reports suggest.
- Regardless of Elena Lasconi's decision to take legal action, her name will still appear on the ballot even if she withdraws her candidacy before May 4.
