IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, PNL To Support Basescu In Exchange For PM"s Seat

During the ongoing negotiations for the assembly of the new coalition Government, the National Liberal Party (PNL) has suggested to the Liberal - Democrat Party (PD-L) to trade the office of Prime Minister in exchange for PNL"s support in the future presidential elections, due next year. If so, PNL would not endorse their own candidate, but offer full support to PD-L"s candidate. Sources quoted by NewsIn say that PD-L also asked for the office of Prime Minister during the negotiations, but the Liberals refused.

PNL declined the offer because PD-L already has the Presidency, through incumbent President Traian Basescu, and the Liberals want to have their own counterweight in the form of the Prime Minister"s office in order to maintain a political balance. The Liberals promised not to endorse their own candidate for the Presidency in 2009 and support Traian Basescu as the single candidate of a future alliance. "They did propose that, but we"re not interested," a PD-L leader said. Asked what PD-L would do if the Liberals refused to give up on the Prime Minister"s office, he said: "What will be will be. We did our duty. We did want a right-wing Government." PD-L also offered PNL the office of Vice Prime Minister (the only such office in the future Cabinet) and the office of Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, which is not enough a counterweight for the Liberals. Sources say that PNL"s Bogdan Olteanu is generally endorsed in principle for the office of Vice Prime Minister. They added that, during discussions held on Saturday, the matter of allocating portfolios was not touched, but PD-L hinted at the Liberals that they could have the office of Minister of Justice, in order not to be "forced" by the Presidency to nominate Monica Macovei.

According to sources, it appears that President Basescu believes that two offices in the future Cabinet are not negotiable: Prime Minister and Minister of Justice. Nonetheless, PD-L think that the non-negotiable offices are Prime Minister, Minister of Transport and Minister of Finance. Another interesting detail is that the first round of negotiations, was held at PNL"s headquarters in the hall where the party leadership usually has their meetings. The hall is decorated with the portraits of all presidents PNL has had since it was established. However, the portraits of Theodor Stolojan and Valeriu Stoica were originally removed when the two left the party. On Saturday, the portraits were back, facing the hall.