Romanian PM Tariceanu: The ruling alliance is dead (Mar 27, 2007)

Mar 27, 2007 (HotNews.ro)

Following talks between National-Liberals and Democrats on Monday at a ruling alliance meeting, Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu (Liberal) proclaimed that the governing coalition was ‘dead’ as negotiations to overcome political crisis failed earlier in the morning. Mr. Tariceanu reiterated some left-wing issues as he looks for Social-Democrat support in the parliament in a bid to reshuffle the Cabinet by ousting the Democrats.

Representatives of the two governing parties in Romania met on Monday in an ultimate effort to defuse the crisis that may lead to the break up of the existing government.

Following the talks the National Liberal Party (PNL) deputy-president Crin Antonescu said his group did not find the Democrats the appropriate partners for negotiations, thus dismissing media claims of a possible breakthrough during weekend talks.

On Monday at noon PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu, the PNL president, announced "the death of the D.A. Alliance" that has governed Romania since the 2004 general polls.

He blamed the situation on the Democrats' decision to run on separate lists in Romania's first European Parliament elections due later this year.

Mr. Tariceanu also specified the decision of two of PD's ministers - Justice Minister Monica Macovei and Interior Minister Vasile Blaga - not to support his bill to postpone the European elections as another way by which the Democrats "initiated" the collapse of the alliance.

Moreover, he accused Transport Minister Radu Berceanu (Democrat) of constantly deteriorating his public image.

The ‘Evenimentul Zilei’ newspaper claimed in its Monday issue that Liberal PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu met Democratic Party (PD) leader Emil Boc last weekend in an effort to save what can be saved of the their governing alliance.

The talks came as the two parties prepare for a government reshuffle aimed at overcoming the political crisis affecting Romania for months.

But Antonescu yesterday said that the Liberals did not find a partner in PD during morning talks and that a PM Tariceanu would have to decide alone on the expected government reshuffle.

For his part, the Democrat executive leader Adriean Videanu said his party was ready to face any political development – i.e. either to leave the government or to stick with the Liberals within the ruling alliance.

The Democrat Party leader Emil Boc said that "it is for sure that pretexts are sought to remove PD from the government and to build a coalition [of Liberals] with the Social-Democrat Party", now in opposition.



Romanian PM pledged to withdraw Romanian troops from Iraq by Christmas

Romanian PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu said on Monday he would do the best to withdraw Romanian troops from Iraq by Christmas this year. He said Romanian soldiers have accomplished the mission for which they were deployed in Iraq.

“The time has come to bring our troops, women and men, back home… That’s why I’ll do whatever I can, according to the Constitution and the law, so that by Christmas the Romanian military contingent in Iraq returns home, according to provisions of a schedule to be established with our allies and partners”, Tariceanu said.

Romania currently holds some 600 troops in Iraq. PM Tariceanu’s call for their withdrawal last summer led to a political dispute with the Romanian President Traian Basescu that resulted in the resignation of the then Defense Minister Teodor Atanasiu (Liberal).



PM Tariceanu says Romania will not drop the so called ‘first registration’ car tax

Romanian PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu said on Monday that the country would not give up the tax it introduced this year on imported used cars procurement. The so-called first registration car tax prompted the European Commission last week to initiate procedures that may lead to sanctions against Romania for free trade practices infringement.

The tax was set up as a means for what the government says is an attempt to stop an inflow of used cars on the Romanian market once the country joined the EU on January 1st this year.

“If one dislikes its name as ‘first registration tax’, then we’ll call it a tax for a clean Romania or a tax to preserve jobs”, Tariceanu said, arguing that the tax is not just a measure of environmental protection but also for the protection of tens of thousands of jobs in the car-making industry.

He said those who want to sell cars on the Romanian market should come and build them locally thus providing jobs for Romanians.

And he said that once a member state of the European Union Romania should not obey all Brussels’ decisions without protecting its own interests.



Romania Report, using HotNews.ro material