Basescu and Geoana plot plan

The Social-Democrats' bill against the government is standing small chance to pass in the Parliament, although theoretical calculations are showing the opposite. The difference between the number of votes needed to overthrow the Cabinet in power and the coalition made to achieve it - the PSD (Social-Democrat Party), the PD (Democrat Party) and the PLD (Liberal-Democrat-Party) - is just 12 MPs. There are 5 PSD senators who will be absent because they are sick, there is Ion Iliescu who is against the idea and there are many other more MPs who think the PSD action is risky, which is why the bill is likely to be a failure. The bill is also critical of ministers from the PD, which can be a reason for the Democrats to dismiss it.
The PSD leader Mircea Geoana is aware that failure would mean not only a disadvantage to his image, but also a reason for him to get the sack and lose leadership over the party. He will therefore carry out a plan he plotted together with the President of Romania Traian Basescu, a plan to make him sure he will continue to head the PSD. In exchange to overthrowing the Tariceanu Cabinet and to PSD support for a minority PD government with Vasile Blaga as PM, Traian Basescu will help him settle domestic party problems. The President promised the PSD leader to uncover criminal cases on every potential enemy Mircea Geoana has got in the very PSD.
Secret voting, but in the open
Therefore the PSD leader threatened to expel the disobedient Social-Democrats and he imposed control over the future votes. He broke the law by announcing his intention to ask for voting in the open. According to article 34 in the regulation of both Chambers, "the withdrawal of confidence granted to the government by means of passing a bill against the government is subject to a procedure such as the secret voting by ballots". But the PSD leader is actually imposing censorship in the Parliament, as his party members will have to vote against their own beliefs and principles and implicitly against the citizens who elected them.
Mircea Geoana admits that party leaders are fearful because "the PSD MPs are right now a little nervous because the bill is standing real chances to pass". PSD member Nicolae Vacaroiu, a president of the Romanian Senate, commented briefly: "It is a policy parties take up to have control over the poll results. In my opinion, this is no longer secret voting, its is a vote out of fear. The PSD may go for it too". He added that sanctions against those party members opposing the bill would mean preference for dictatorship.

Roxana Andronic
Ziua Sambata 22 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english