Romania’s PM Summons Parties for Setting Up Presidential Election Date

On Friday, June 28, Marcel Ciolacu announced he would summon all political parties to consultations. The decision was taken on the last day when the Government should’ve issued a decision regarding the precise dates for the presidential elections.

Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu’s decision to summon parties to consultation influences the presidential election dates in Romania. However, the decision was meant to keep the governing coalition alive while there were rumours that the presidential election could end it.

Today, we practically leave the previously established electoral calendar, the last day on which we could pass the Government Ordinance to establish the date of the elections.
That’s why I will invite the leaders of all political parties to establish the election calendar together from Monday with the two deputy prime ministers. This is the right approach and not changing a minister forced by his party not to initiate a previously agreed piece of legislation. I will not respond to challenges to trigger a governmental crisis and instability in Romania.

Romania’s Prime Minsiter Marcel Ciolacu

There are visible tensions between the Socialists and the Liberals who form the ruling coalition. The bone of contention was the presidential election date. Even though it was already agreed to be held on September 15 – round 1 and 29 – second round if necessary, the Liberals have changed their mind and wanted to postpone it until late autumn, while Socialists wanted the initial agreement to be respected.

The problem for the Liberals is that their presidential candidate, Nicolae Ciuca, has no time to improve his image drastically. Giant billboards have already been placed in the country, pushing Ciuca’s image as a man of honour and reminding electors of his military past. Yet, political consultants see it as too little and too late to offer him a good chance of winning the presidential elections.

The initial agreement of the Liberals was based on the potential successful candidature of Klaus Johannis for a high position at NATO or the European Council. In this scenario, Johannis would’ve resigned from the office earlier, leaving Nicolae Ciuca, now Head of the Senate and the second man in the state, as interim president until the elections. This would’ve boosted Ciuca’s image as a potential president, helping him even in early elections.

Both scenarios failed to fulfil, thus Joahnnis has to remain in the office until late December. This cuts Ciuca’s chances of becoming interim president, which is why Liberals need more time to improve his image.

After political consultations with the parties, Romania’s PM Marcel Ciolacu will announce the presidential elections’ agenda for this year.