IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS
- Elections: Victor Ponta won an outright victory in the first round of the presidential elections!
- Elections: At the request of Victor Ponta, the BEC and the Government took measures to ensure that all Romanians abroad are able to vote.
- POLITICS. Victor Ponta proposed three options for the PM of the coalition Government.
- ECONOMY. The European Commission cancels any discussion about the technical recession. Romania has economic growth!
- ELECTIONS. The Government increases the allowance for family support
- ENDORSEMENT. Seven European PM support Victor Ponta in the presidential race.
- Electoral debates. Victor Ponta renews the invitation addressed to Klaus Iohannis to participate in four televised debates.
- Polls. Victor Ponta, 10% ahead of Klaus Iohannis.
At the request of Victor Ponta, the BEC and the Government took measures to ensure that all Romanians abroad are able to vote.
Government officials stressed that the BEC is responsible for the electoral process in the Diaspora, and not the Government! The elections are organized by the Permanent Electoral Authority, alongside the BEC; the Government only deals with securing the electoral process; everything that happens in the polling stations is the responsibility of the BEC, Government officials stressed.
They showed that the grievances of the citizens in the Diaspora are legitimate, and that the objective technical failures in the first round of the elections will be rectified in the light of the presidential election run-off.
Officials indicated that the incidents observed occurred despite efforts made to prevent them. Compared to 2009, there were more voting booths, stressed the same voices. Thus, in Paris, in 2009, there were six polling booths; in 2014 – 14 polling booths. In London, in 2009, were installed eight polling booths, so that in 2014 to be 11. In Chisinau, the number increased from 13 to 21. One of the causes of the incidents is the greater number of voters to the polls than that estimated by the Executive: in Paris in 2014 more Romanians voted than in 2009, when the current Government did not organize the elections. And in Chisinau, almost 3 times more.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta gave a very strong message: if there will be any Romanian who wanted to vote and could not, all senior official of the MFA will be dismissed. The PM ensured that he would do everything related to the Government and Government institutions so that on November 16 there would not be a single citizen who failed to vote.
Following the meeting between the MFA and the BEC, measures have been already taken in this regard. All measures that will be decided by the BEC will have, in terms of finance and logistics, support from the Government. All the necessary amounts to increase the number of voting booths, and voting staff will be allocated from the Reserve Fund. Friday, the Ambassadors and Consuls from France, Germany, the UK, Austria and the Republic of Moldova were summoned in Bucharest. If there will be found anything unsatisfactory, all polling station presidents will be immediately replaced. The MFA will provide everything they need for the statutory declaration to be downloaded online. The BEC decided that voters in the Diaspora can vote with the statements already filled in – they will sign them at the polling station. Another decision: the number of members in the voting committees will be filled by personnel provided by the MFA, up to a maximum, where some of the initially designated people are missing.
Government leaders have stressed that they are convinced, however, that the situation will not repeat itself, all Romanians in the Diaspora will have all the necessary infrastructure so they can vote on November 16 with the candidate they prefer. US Representatives appreciated as legitimate the solutions identified by the BEC and the MFE.
Victor Ponta won an outright victory in the first round of the presidential elections!
Prime Minister Victor Ponta, PSD President, won the first round of the 2014 presidential elections. The PSD-UNPR-PC candidate, Victor Ponta, won 40.33% of the votes in the first round of the presidential elections on Sunday, and the ACL representative, Klaus Iohannis 30.44%, according to the partial data provided by the Central Electoral Bureau, Monday morning, after the centralization of the minutes from 18.527 polling stations, accounting for 98.30%.
According to data presented by the BEC, 3.771.422 voters voted for Victor Ponta and 2.846.227 for Klaus Iohannis.
The independent candidate Calin Popescu Tariceanu ranked third place, obtaining 5.40% (504.880 votes), followed by Elena Udrea (PMP) with 5.18% (484.397 votes), Monica Macovei – independent with 4.46 % (417.865 votes) and Dan Diaconescu (PP-DD) – 3.99% (373.944 votes).
According to the BEC, on the following places are Corneliu Vadim Tudor (PRM) – 3.66% (343.016 votes), Kelemen Hunor (UDMR) – 3.50% (327.918 votes), Teodor Melescanu – independent 1.10% (102.936 votes ), Szilagyi Zsolt (PPMT) – 0.56% (52.809 votes), Gheorghe Funar – independent 0.48% (44.932 votes), William Brinza (Romanian Ecological Party) – 0.45% (42.640 votes), Constantin Rotaru (Socialist Alliance Party) – 0.30% (28.414 votes) and Mirel Mircea Amaritei (Prodemo) – 0.08% (7794 votes).
Victor Ponta is above the target he set: 37.5% in the European elections, 40% now. Victor Ponta got a score above the party, which proves that he is on an upward trend. Victor Ponta’s score is very good – for at least 10 years there has not been such a great percentage difference between to the top-ranked and the next candidate. Iohannis, on the other hand, is under the target set: he first set a score of 35%.
Many stereotypes about the PSD’s electorate profile have been disproven: more young people than old people voted, more in urban than in rural areas, more highly educated than those with primary or secondary education. For PSD leaders, the election result shows that Victor Ponta is perceived as the President of all Romanians, receiving a consistent number of votes in each social category and in each region.
For the first time, the PSD candidate got a good score in the Diaspora – the vote in the Republic of Moldova is an example, where Victor Ponta won an important vote.
Victor Ponta proposed three options for the PM of the coalition Government
The PSD President said that all three options are viable for the Prime Minister’s office and currently accepted by the ruling coalition. Victor Ponta said that it is a good thing that there are three strong and balanced options for the position as Prime Minister.
PSD leaders also criticized the fact that Iohannis comes before the Romanians with the option of Predoiu – PM, who signed as Minister the cutting of pensions and salaries.
The three proposals of the ruling coalition are the former Prime Minister, Calin Popescu Tariceanu, Florin Georgescu, and George Maior.
PSD leaders stressed that the proposal for Tariceanu as PM guarantees the furthering of the principles on which the USL was built. The proposal for Tariceanu also indicates a Government preference for fiscal relaxation, growth in parallel with measures for social consolidation. PSD leaders have also stressed that the nomination of Tariceanu represents the social-liberal policy as it was voted with an absolute majority in 2012 by most Romanians. The same voices have said that Tariceanu has proven to be an effective Prime Minister with strong principles and experience, a PM who disobeyed Basescu.
The proposal for Florin Georgescu as Prime Minister guarantees budgetary discipline and stability for Romania. If the European and the world economic situation requires a more rigorous budgetary and fiscal discipline, a technocrat with an impressive career in economic and fiscal policy is appropriate for the Prime Minister’s office, stressed the spokesmen of the ruling coalition. Florin Georgescu is one of the greatest specialists in everything related to the budget, finance and banks in Romania, PSD leaders have concluded.
They stressed that in the current regional context it is required that Romania remains a factor of stability and consistency, a serious and staunch ally of NATO. George Maior is a leader who proved that he can lead very effectively an institution vital to ensuring national security, stressed the same voices. PSD leaders showed that George Maior is appreciated by the entire political class, is a man who has performed in all the offices he served. Under these circumstances, the appointment of George Maior as Prime Minister guarantees balance and unanimity in Government decision making. For the leaders of the ruling coalition, the signal that George Maior as Prime Minister is giving to the Romanians is that Romania is a safe and strong country that can provide stability and regional prosperity.
Leaders of the ruling coalition stressed that, as President, Victor Ponta, together with any of the three names announced for the position of Prime Minister, guarantees that Romania enters a stage of national solidarity and totally surpasses the discord and perpetual scandal that President Basescu continued to spread through his regime within the country, in contrast with the proposed option of Ioannis for PM, Catalin Predoiu, the one who signed from the position of Minister of Justice in the Boc Government for the cutting of the wages and pensions of the Romanians.
The European Commission cancels any discussion about the technical recession. Romania has economic growth!
The EC estimates for Romania an increase of 1% in the third quarter of 2014, in comparison to the previous quarter, and 1.6% in the fourth quarter of 2014. So there is no technical recession. According to the EC, Romania will register in the 3rd and 4th quarters the highest quarterly growth rates: plus 1% in Q3 (compared to the EU average of 0.2) and plus 1.6% in Q4 compared to the European average of 0.3 %.
Economic analysts have said that, however, the term of technical recession is controversial. In the US, economists do not accept this definition.
Due to uncertainties in the Eurozone, the EC reduced the growth rate forecast for 2014 for 16 EU countries: Germany from 1.8% to 1.3%, France from 1% to 0.3%, Italy from +0.6 to -0.4%, Austria from 1.6 to 0.7%, Romania from 2.5 to 2%, Poland from 3.2 to 3% etc.
Government leaders have shown that the data clearly emphasizes that the Romanian economy is not in recession, on the contrary. Although real GDP growth rate falls compared to last year, there is still growth (+2.6% in 6 months compared to 6 months in 2013). The Commission’s data is doubled by that of the IMF and the WB, showing a growth of over 2% for this year.
According to the EC, in 2014, Romania will have the 12th highest economic growth rate in the EU 28. In addition, employment increases (the number of actual stable jobs increased by 106,000 in the first eight months of 2014). Industrial production increased by 9% in the first eight months of 2014, compared to the same period of the previous year. Real incomes and purchasing power have also increased by 4%, while domestic consumption grew by 7.4% in the first nine months of 2014, compared to the same period of last year.
Victor Ponta: I want to thank all Romanians who came to vote
The PSD-UNPR-PC presidential candidate, Victor Ponta, thanked all the Romanians who came to the polls, whether or not they have voted for him, and was very proud that many voters had confidence in his project which mainly aims at changing Romania and affirming the national identity.
‘I want to thank everyone who came to vote – those who voted for my candidacy, for the other 13 candidates, the important thing is that they came to vote and exercised their democratic right. And I feel very proud that many Romanians trusted my presidency project, a project for change, after 10 years of division and hatred and affirmation, of our pride and affirmation of our national identity. I thank all those who thought it was important to vote, but I want to ask all those who voted for me to be again at my side on November 16, because then we can really start on this road that Romania needs after these extremely bad years”, said the PSD President, in a press conference at the party headquarters.
„I have a responsibility towards all and my presidency project includes absolutely all Romanians in Romania. (…) I want to be able to be the president of all Romanians, not just of a majority or of a group because I thought that the Romanians can be a united nation. After all those years of hatred, we need to start on a new path, in which the capacity for dialogue and working together should be the norm and not the exception. I will use the two-weeks campaign that remain until November 16 to further present my presidency project on matters within the scope of the President: foreign policy and national security, constitutional system, judicial independence and efficiency, social development and economic development of Romania.
And here I refer in particular to the fact that on Tuesday I will meet with the representatives of the ruling coalition and together we will announce the persons who can lead a Government of Romania based on the USL program voted in 2012, until the 2016 elections, because the USL won in 2012. And I admit that I watched with some bitterness and disgust the fact that Vasile Blaga, Mihai Razvan Ungureanu and many others were present in the USL headquarters, alongside Klaus Iohannis, who has nothing to do with the USL, but deception is a major force in Romania. And I think after November 16 we must take the change to the end”, said the PSD President.
Seven European PM support Victor Ponta in the presidential race
Prime Minister Victor Ponta, PSD President, enjoys the first place after the first round of the presidential elections in Romania, but the PM also enjoys the support from abroad.
Specifically, several European officials wanted to convey to the Social-Democratic leader support and encouragement messages.
Thus, European Parliament President Martin Schulz, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibasvili, the Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, the PM of Slovakia Robert Fico, former Prime Minister of Belgium Elio di Rupo, Vice-Chancellor of Germany Sigmar Gabriel and President of the S&D group Gianni Pittella support the candidacy of Victor Ponta for the 2014 presidential elections.
The PSD candidate in the presidential election, Victor Ponta, will open a new chapter of Romanian democracy, says the President of the European Socialists Party, Sergey Stanishev.
„There is only one candidate with the authority, experience and determination to change the political and economic direction of Romania, and that is Victor Ponta. Voters deserve a president who fights for their rights and the rights of their children, a president that is appreciated both in Romania and abroad, and has a vision of the future. The work of Victor Ponta, both as Prime Minister and as party leader, was exemplary and I am sure that he will be an outstanding president. Victor Ponta will open a new chapter of Romanian democracy”, a message from the PES President said, according to a PSD press release.
The European official stated his support for Ponta in Bucharest, at the end of September, at the launch of the campaign of the PSD President. „Together we will defeat the austerity policy. We will fight for growth, investment and jobs, „said then the PES President.
Victor Ponta renews the invitation addressed to Klaus Iohannis to participate in four televised debates
The candidate of the PSD-UNPR-PC Alliance, Prime Minister Victor Ponta, proposed to his opponent, the Liberal Klaus Iohannis to participate in four televised debates next week.
According to a press release from the PSD, the debates would take place as follows: Monday, November 10, at Romania TV – debate on economy and social policy issues; Tuesday, November 11, at Realitatea TV – debate on foreign policy and national security issues; Wednesday, November 12, at B1 – debate on the development of the political institutions and the rule of law; Thursday, November 13, at Antena 3 – debate on the Presidential development vision of Romania”, reads a press release from the PSD.
According to a quoted source, the proposed debates would start at 20.00 and would last 90 minutes.
„The TV stations had already been contacted and, up to this point, they have all confirmed their interest and accepted to hold these debates, on these dates and on these issues. These are matters of public interest, falling within the powers of the President of Romania, according to the Constitution, and can give the public a clear picture of the program and the options of each candidate”, reads press release of the Social-Democrats.
In the document signed by Victor Ponta it is reminded that the Prime Minister made this invitation to Klaus Iohannis ‘since before Sunday’s vote’. The Social-Democrats also state that they look forward to a confirmation from the ACL candidate, so that the debates ‘can take place in the best conditions’.
Victor Ponta, 10% ahead of Klaus Iohannis
The latest polls confirm the difference between the two candidates. Both the CSCI and the Sociopol Polls, conducted after the first round of the presidential elections see the Social-Democrat as the prospective winner of the November 16 elections. According to both polls, the difference between the two candidates remains the same as after the first round, with 10% of the votes separating the two candidates. Victor Ponta is preferred by 55% of the voters, whereas Klaus Iohannis is poised to receive the votes of 45% of the electorate.
60% of the respondents believe that Victor Ponta will win the elections and become the President of Romania, whereas only 22% of the voters believe Klaus Iohannis is capable of defeating Victor Ponta.
Both polling companies issued accurate predictions before the first round of the presidential elections.
