Traian Basescu, Biased Arbiter In the Fight Between Boc and Blaga For PDL's Helm

05.13.2011 ZF English

Autumn of 2000. In front of an enthusiastic crowd, Petre Roman launches his candidature for the presidential elections. Traian Basescu is the one who introduces the candidate. "Petre, you're the best!" Basescu shouts out, waving his hands in the air. In the spring of next year, Petre Roman was to be removed from the helm of PD (Democratic Party) by the same Basescu. Now it was Basescu's time to shine. Supporting Emil Boc for leader of PDL (ruling Democratic Liberal Party, former PD), Basescu shows he has not managed even six years into his presidency to separate himself from his former party, which he continues to try to control.

The party has the same problem: it cannot tear itself away from Traian Basescu, the man who secured it major political victories.

PDL tomorrow elects its president for the next four years. It has a choice between its current president, Premier Emil Boc and "bulldog" Vasile Blaga, PDL's secretary general.

Emil Boc is a man who won two terms as mayor of Cluj, in 2004 and 2008, sacrificing his position one year later to become premier after Theodor Stolojan went back on his decision to accept premiership for the second time, having been the first to be awarded the mandate to form the Government. Vasile Blaga is a politician who lost a strategic battle to become mayor of Bucharest in 2008, but was behind all of Traian Basescu's victories. The third candidate, Theodor Paleologu, has no chance of winning.

Traian Basescu will be present at the meeting of the democratic-liberals. Will his presence put pressure on the delegates to vote for Emil Boc? It's difficult to say.