Romania’s President Basescu met tens of thousand supporters in Transylvania (May 10, 2007)

May 10, 2007 (Romania Report & sources)

The suspended President Basescu attended a meeting in Cluj-Napoca (Romania's province of Transylvania), in front of app. 25,000 to 30,000 supporters. The rally was organized by the pro-Basescu Democrat Party and Liberal Democrat Party.

During his speech, President Basescu launched a new attack against the 322 MPs who voted for his impeachment. Mr. Basescu said he is confident that he will win the impeachment referendum and warned that in case the Parliament will not pass a bill for introducing the majority vote, “this autumn I will call for a referendum on this issue.” President Basescu also stated that an effective revision of the Constitution is required.

Mr. Basescu said again that he was impeached because he had the courage to condemn the former Communist regime as criminal and illegitimate, and because he (together with former Justice Minister Monica Macovei) stopped the politicians from interfering with the judiciary system.

As previously asked by the media, Mr. Basescu pointed out the names of the most prominent oligarchs who control the country’s economical and political environment.

Basescu’s ‘list’ included:
- Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu and his Liberal colleague, Dinu Patriciu, pointed at by Basescu as the true ruler in the Liberal Party;
- Dan Voiculescu, head of the Conservative party, owner of a media empire and profitable businesses;
- Dan Ioan Popescu, Social Democrat "brain", named by Basescu as "the man who organized the corrupt system in the energy market";
- Attila Verestoy, representative of the Hungarians' Democratic Union;
- Viorel Hrebenciuc, the Social Democrats’ mastermind behind the scene. Basescu believes that Hrebenciuc initiated the conspiracy for his suspension.
- Ion Iliescu - Social Democrat, former president, running his party with a strong hand.



Background info:

DINU PATRICIU: businesses in oil, real estate and media. He entered politics since 1990 (as Liberal), old friend and partner of PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu. Patriciu was brought to court for various financial crimes, never convicted.
DAN VOICULESCU: main shareholder at the GRIVCO group (a company set up by the ‘Securitate’, back in the ‘80ies), owner of a media corporation. Disclosed as former agent of the Communist political police (Securitate). Gains seats in the Parliament running along in an alliance with the Social Democrats. One week after the elections joins Basescu for a parliamentarian majority. Votes for Basescu's suspension.
VERESTOY ATTILA: Hungarian Minority leader, became rich through controversial wood and alcohol businesses. A former associate is known as a leading mobster in Verestoy's county, being arrested for a few months and then released.
VIOREL HREBENCIUC: former governor of Bacau county, known as "local baron". Involved in controversial businesses with politicians, now convicted or accused in criminal cases. Supporter of Omar Hayssam with the Social Democrat Party. Hayssam was later to become the first Romanian citizen officially charged with terrorism.
DAN IOAN POPESCU: Former Social democrat Industry Minister, with 11 million euros declared wealth. Currently, he is under investigation for financial crimes.



***

Yesterday, in Sibiu, the Social Democrats attempted to set up a large anti-Basescu meeting. Mr. Mircea Geoana’s left-wing party expected app. 15,000 supporters to attend the protest. Instead, Geoana eventually spoke in front of some 6,000 citizens gathered from counties from Transylvania and Banat.



Romania Report, using ‘HotNews.ro’ material