Leader of the Save Romania Union (USR) Elena Lasconi on Monday stated that, while she did not have any discussions with the PNL (National Liberal Party) for an alliance, „the door is open”, noting, at the same time, that she spoke with all the other centre-right forces – PMP (People’s Movement Party), Forta Dreptei (The Right Force), REPER – and a decision will be made at the end of this week.

„There were no discussions and negotiations regarding an alliance with the PNL, despite what I saw in the media. I tell you that it did not happen, I guarantee you. I came up with that idea because I admire Mr. Bolojan who has a lot of experience in administration, but I want to tell you very promptly that we have many specialists in our party who could be prime ministers as well. On the other hand, I was also thinking about the fact that we will be in the government and we will conduct a real reform in administration, and Mr. Ilie Bolojan will lose his job, because the main issue here is to abolish all county councils and the merger of rural towns with less than 2,000 inhabitants, which I think means 27-28% of Romania’s surface,” Lasconi told a press conference at the Parliament, when she was asked about the proposal she made for the position of prime minister – Liberal Ilie Bolojan – and if there are negotiations at the moment regarding an alliance with the PNL for the parliamentary and presidential elections.

She said that she proposed Ilie Bolojan because „that’s what she felt” and she didn’t think about „I don’t know what chess moves”.

„No, I didn’t talk to Mr. Ciuca and I said that the USR door is open. However, I talked to all the other centre-right forces, namely PMP, Forta Dreptei, REPER, and we also talked with the independents. I believe at the end of this week we will be able to inform you about the results, since it is very little time left until the submission of the parliamentary alliances and the presidential alliances, September 10 and 15 respectively,” added Elena Lasconi.

The head of USR also referred to the moment when the leader of the Liberals, Nicolae Ciuca, refused to meet with her.

She appreciated that, if he had put his pride aside, „it would have been the first time in the history of Romania when the first female president would have won in the first round”.

Elena Lasconi emphasised that she will discuss with the PNL, if she is contacted.

In her opinion, Nicolae Ciuca has no chance of reaching the second round of the presidential elections.

„From the polls I saw last time, he is already somewhere on the 6th position,” added Lasconi, mentioning that she and Marcel Ciolacu [leader of the Social Democratic Party – editor’s note] will meet in the second round.

In connection with the negotiations with Forta Dreptei, Elena Lasconi said that she is waiting for Ludovic Orban’s [leader of Forta Dreptei – editor’s note] decision.

Elena Lasconi mentioned that the discussions got stuck on the parliamentary lists.

„Everyone wants as much as possible and when I say that I’m thinking about the places eligible for parliamentarians, not about anything else,” she explained.

The leader of the USR mentioned that he proposed to Forta Dreptei and the other centre-right parties an alliance to be called the USR.

After the elections, USR expects an alliance with PNL, but also with UDMR (Democratic Union of Hungarians of Romania), Lasconi said.

AGERPRES