Opinion Poll: Basescu to win in case of early presidential election (May 3, 2007)

May 3, 2007 (Romania Report & sources)

According to an opinion poll published yesterday, almost half of the Romanians would vote for Traian Basescu, if presidential election take place next Sunday. The pro-Basescu Democrat Party (member of European Peoples Party Group) would get 32 per cent in early parliamentary polls, thus overcoming the Social Democrats (credited with 17% only).

According to the opinion poll, commissioned by Realitatea TV, if presidential elections take place next Sunday, Traian Basescu would get 42 per cent of the votes. Nine per cent of the registered voters would not go to ballot boxes, and 11 per cent were undecided or did not want to answer the questions. Second in the top is Gigi Becali (New Generation Party) with 14 per cent, and third Mircea Geoana (Social Democrat Party) with 6 per cent. Ranking on the following positions are ultra-nationalist Corneliu Vadim Tudor (“Greater Romania” Party), PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu (National Liberal Party), Cozmin Gusa (National Initiative Party), etc.

According to the opinion poll, if elections for Parliament are held next Sunday, 32 per cent of the Romanians would vote for the Democrat Party (member of European Peoples Party Group), 17 per cent for the Social Democrat Party, 15 per cent for the National Liberal Party member of ALDE), and 14 per cent for the New Generation Party. The ‘Greater Romania’ Party would get eight per cent of the votes, the Democrat Union of the Hungarians from Romania five per cent, the Liberal Democrat Party four per cent, the National Christian Democrat Party and the National Initiative Party two per cent each, and the Conservative Party one per cent. Those who are irresolute or do not go to ballot represented 22 per cent.

Traian Basescu is still the most popular politician, with 49 per cent of the interviewed, followed by Gigi Becali with 36 per cent, and Theodor Stolojan with 31 per cent. Social Democrat leader Mircea Geoana received only 22 per cent in terms of popular support, Calin Popescu Tariceanu – 19 per cent, Emil Boc – 17 per cent, Corneliu Vadim Tudor – 15 per cent.

The IMAS opinion poll was performed in April 14-22, 2007, in 105 urban and rural communities, on a stratified, random sample, representative for the adult population of Romania, with a statistical error margin of plus/minus 2.57 per cent. The poll did not take into account the opinions of almost 3 mln Romanian citizens working in Western Europe.



President Basescu said he would give up politics in case he does not win the impeachment referendum

Romania's suspended President Traian Basescu held a meeting with foreign journalists in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday May 2, 2007.

Basescu said Wednesday that Parliament suspended him because he refused to negotiate judicial and moral reforms with leading politicians, adding he was confident that he would not be impeached in a May 19 referendum.

In case he does not enjoy popular support at the referendum, Basescu said he would give up politics. Anyway, Basescu showed confidence that he will win the referendum: “We will win – Romanians and me as well,” Basescu said.



EU political groups show interest regarding the outcome of Romania’s impeachment referendum

Political groups in the European Parliament are aware that the referendum to impeach President Traian Basescu will significantly influence the Euro-parliamentary elections to take place in Romania this fall.

The president of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, voiced his belief that Traian Basescu will win the referendum of May 19.

Thus, he contradicted the leader of the European Socialists (PES), Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, who had asked martens to give up his support for President Basescu.

“Contrary to what PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen falsely stated last week, President Basescu has accepted the vote of the Romanian Parliament and has publicly confirmed that: ‘the best solution for Romania is for me to run in the referendum.’ Thus, I am convinced that he will win the referendum not just because he is fighting a head-on battle against corruption, but because the overwhelming majority of the Romanian citizens trust him,” stated the EPP President.

“Also, I am not surprised that in this critical moment for Romania’s future, all the Godfathers of Romanian corruption have a devoted ally on their side: the post-communist Social democrat party (PSD) of Iliescu and Nastase, the prominent member-party of the Party of European Socialists (PES). The PSD symbolizes what Romania was unable to deal with after 1989 – namely its communist past,” Martens said.

He stated that Basescu has a major mission, i.e. to turn Romania into a trustful EU member, without corruption and secret, communist-like manoeuvres. “The Romanian people will make the right choice,” concluded the EPP leader.

On another hand, the Romania Social Democrats (PSD) received the support of the European Socialists also last Tuesday when PES Secretary General, Philippe Cordery, present in Bucharest for the May Day rally, said that Traian Basescu is on the point of damaging Romania’s image.

In retort, PD vice-president Anca Boagiu called yesterday “hazardous” the declarations of PES Secretary General and President, according to which Presidence Traian Basescu should resign from his office, after Parliament voted for his impeachment. “We are not on the same wave length. I recommend them (the PES members) to promote European policies in Romania and not a double-speech policy,” added Anca Boagiu.



Romania Report & sources