Seal of love

Despite the agreement between the PSD (Social-Democrat Party) and the PD (Democrat Party) with blessing from Cotroceni Palace, the PSD bill against the government failed yesterday. PSD sources claimed the two parties had made a deal to overthrow the Tariceanu Cabinet. The PSD had asked for written guarantees, President Basescu's included. A document had been signed by the very head of state, granting the PSD with access to a government mostly of PD members, the same sources added.
But the decision the MPs reached yesterday by their ballots shows the agreement was just mimed. The ballot counting unveils that the members of the PD, the PSD and the PLD (Liberal Democrat Party) disobeyed the orders from their own party heads. Ballots from all the members of the three parties would have exceeded the 232 polls the bill needed to pass. Given this, Mircea Geoana's days as president of the PSD are counted.
Because of he bill failure, the government is to expect assails from all sides or it may prove able to calm the hot spirits in politics down. This is up to PM Tariceanu's skill to negotiate with the main politicians on the 2008 budget and on the changing of the date when the new pension law is to come into force. The negotiations are due to start today.
There were 220 MPs who voted for the bill, 152 voted against it and 115 didn't vote at all. Given the counting, there were more than 30 'traitors' who gave a hand so that the Liberal PM would stay in Victoria Palace. (...)
The PSD leader Mircea Geoana blamed the failure on the "cowardliness" of the MPs scared with the early election idea or with a new government. He avoided mentioning the "deficiencies", but he warned that, unless voting for it, Ion Iliescu would have to explain to the PSD branch he was part of. The PD leader Emil Boc blamed it on the PSD, mentioning there were 29 deficiencies because of this party. Senate speaker Nicolaie Vacaroiu replied: "It is Boc who is partly guilty of the failure, because in the voting day he denied any talks and collaboration protocol between the PD and the PSD".
"There were talks with both the PNL and the PD"
As for the MPs longing for a new government, they proved diligent yesterday. Adrian Nastase no longer left abroad, Adrian Severin returned to Romania and Raluca Turcan was there, although pregnant. Still Ion Iliescu's friend Razvan Theodorescu and Ioan Solcanu said it clearly that they would vote against the bill.
Some PSD members pointed to Ion Iliescu, Sorin Oprescu and Adrian Nastase, although in the morning they were claiming the bill would pass. They said the PD "bought" ballots from some Liberals and the victory was sure. The Liberals weren't intimidated by the crowding MPs and the Social-Democrats' confidence and started lobbying on every PSD MPs, promising funds in the territory, government changes and the possibility to sign a protocol after the election of MEPs. In the end the Liberals managed to persuade 7 senators and 15 deputies in it.

Roxana Andronic, Razvan Gheorghe, M.T. & A.I.
Ziua thursday 4 october 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english