At full risk

Traian Basescu is trying his final assault against his main enemy. And Calin-Popescu Tariceanu is pretending to be resisting. The former is making use of all the equipment available and the latter's resistance is passive, as he is actually doing nothing. It is like he were on a metal boat floating on a lake under thunders striking from all sides, pretending not to see the danger. It is the strangest political war ever in Romania. The end of it can only be destructive for one side or the other or for both.
Since I am claiming Traian Basescu is using the entire equipment, I am ready to provide a list. First of all he has got his own credibility available. According to polls, it reaches higher than 50%. He exercises his persuasion skill by public statements. He has been accusing Calin-Popescu Tariceanu both directly and indirectly, by targeting ministers in the latter's Cabinet and criticizing them for incompetence, corruption, inefficiency. If the government manages to resist despite the President's critique and if the economy outcome is still positive, Traian Basescu's score in polls will diminish and in the end turn to dust, electorally speaking, before the presidential elections.
The means for repression are another instrument available: mainly the National Anti-Corruption Department and the Prosecutor's Office together with the secret services as auxiliary. These institutions are these days being used to discredit and fix Traian Basescu's adversaries. If in October 3 the head of state defeats Calin-Popescu Tariceanu, the evil done by converting democratic instruments into political instruments may be muffled and attenuated. But if Calin-Popescu Tariceanu manages, their image will be at a loss. The image of Justice first of all, although Justice is supposed to be one of the most important independent powers in the Romanian democratic state.
Thirdly, the team made up of the Democrat Party and the Liberal-Democrat Party will join the game. If they defeat Calin-Popescu Tariceanu, the two parties may get to govern together or early elections may follow and it would favor both of them, if the Liberal-Democrats manage to become an annex to Traian Basescu's party motorbike. The future alliance has got major domestic difficulties to settle and to sack Calin-Popescu Tariceanu can prove helpful. But if he resists, the two parties, much too presidential, may fail and lose electoral points.
And there is also the fact that Traian Basescu is getting a part of the submissive mass media involved, together with the civil society equipment, since civil society is step by step proving to be coordinated from Cotroceni Palace. This is sacrifice as well, even more than the others are. A victory against Calin-Popescu Tariceanu would mean no advantage or moral satisfaction for the press and the NGOs fond of Traian Basescu, because there would follow a pact, even if tacit, with the demonized Social-Democrat Party.
While stuck in his corner from where he rules the minority government, Calin-Popescu Tariceanu has done nothing in this political battle. Not even when his ministers are abusively nailed to the wall in order to be executed has he taken action. It is strange that this PM who has so far managed on the edge still trusts his lucky star, patiently waiting for things to happen and refusing any humiliating talks with the Democrat Party or the Liberal-Democrat one. He turned his back on those Social-Democrat leaders who helped him survive, more or less overtly. He has been ignoring the "Greater Romania" Party, who is now aware that a dictatorship by Traian Basesacu would be a political danger even greater than a Liberal government. He has provided no response whatsoever to the Conservative Party courting him. This is how Calin-Popescu Tariceanu is facing the tornado, hoping no gust of wind will push him inside the storm, whereas Basescu is risking everything. I am really curious to see whether the Social-Democrats' bill against the government passes or not.

Sorin Rosca Stanescu
Ziua Joi 27 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english