Double play

A government of PSD (Social-Democrat Party) and PNL (National Liberal Party) members would have as obstacles only the leaders of the two parties, Mircea Geoana and Calin-Popescu Tariceanu. The long lasting talks of the main politicians in Romania, meant to find a structure for a stabile government, seem to be approaching the end. Even if political leaders claim officially that they can't estimate the outcome of the PSD bill against the government, and even if there is collaboration between the PNL and the PD (Democrat Party), the PSD and the PD or the PSD or the PNL, two identical moves are emerging. The main sides in the PSD and the PNL think that to give leaders Mircea Geoana and Calin-Popescu Tariceanu the sack is the solution for the making of a future PNL-PSD government.
PSD opinion leaders argue that reasonable analysis shows an alliance with the PD would be no good, because President Basescu, the unofficial boss of the party, has proved an unpredictable partner. Therefore a Liberal-Social-Democrat achievement seems more realistic. But Mircea Geoana and Calin-Popescu Tariceanu are the only obstacles. The former is a leader unable to impose himself on his party and even the PSD group in Cluj agrees this is so. Top PSD members reproach him for his naďve approach to the political traps set by the Romanian President. The latest confusion in the PSD and the existence of so many chaotic versions for negotiations have been reasons for dissatisfaction, according to top PSD sources. They claim that the sacking of Mircea Geona is just a matter of time. On the other hand, Calin-Popescu Tariceanu is reproached for failing to find stabile partners to support the government and also for the Liberals' diminishing score in polls. Given these, a PNL-PSD government is a solution the two parties can put up with, but above their leaders.
Mircea Geoana approaching the end
Mircea Geoana's days as president of the PSD are counted and some party members have got to talk about the end of his career as leader of the most important party in the opposition. His fate depends on the outcome of the bill against the government and of the election of MEPs in Romania. According to parliamentary sources, the bill may fail with help from the very Social-Democrat MPs. Not even in his meeting with President Basescu could the PSD president offer guarantees for his colleagues' votes.
As he is aware of what may follow if the bill is dismissed, Mircea Geoana has decided sanctions against those MPs who vote against the bill and he has been pleading for overt voting in the Parliament. A failure would give the PSD hard times, as the Social-Democrats have been focussing their energy to show they are the true pawn on the political boar. In case of defeat, Mircea Geona won't be in the position of expressing claims from the PD or the PNL and a loser's image would do the party no good. (...)
PSD sources say one idea negotiated was a reformed PSD to make a government. The reform wanted by the PD, the PNL and President Traian Basescu in particular would mean the elimination of those leaders in trouble with their credibility. Did this follow, there may emerge battle for supremacy over party sides. Furthermore, in his meeting with the head of state, Mircea Geoana was told that he wouldn't be appointed a PM to head a one single party government or even a government with Democrat members. (...)

D.I.
Ziua Vineri 21 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english