PSD is divided into two camps. Who wants to govern with Simion and who is on Nicușor Dan Source's side
The PSD leaders in the territory were divided into two camps: some demanded that the party support George Simion in the second round, then govern with gold. Others, the youngest, asked the party to be publicly positioned by Nicușor Dan, because an association with gold would destroy the PSD image externally and would lead to the loss of elections in 2028, political sources say for Adevărul. Finally, the PSD leadership agreed a middle way: not to officially support any candidate in the presidential final. However, behind the scenes, PSD leaders mobilize their mayors according to their own interest.
The PSD does not officially support any candidate for the Presidency of Romania. Photo: EPA-EFE
The PSD president, Marcel Ciolacu, asked the leaders in the territory to explain in front of the party why they did not mobilize for Crin Antonescu. Answer to UNISON: Mayors can no longer control the electorate in presidential elections, sources from the party say for Adevărul. In addition, leaders with seniority in the party, led by Secretary General Paul Stănescu, pleaded for PSD to support George Simion and then enter the gold. “Most of our electorate will vote with Simion, that's clear. As last year he voted with Georgescu”, I say the sources quoted.
Instead, the “young wolves” in the party asked the PSD to delimit George Simion and to support Nicușor Dan in the presidential final. Then the PSD will claim the position of prime minister in an alliance with PNL, USR and UDMR. Among the supporters of Nicușor Dan in the PSD are the MEP Victor Negrescu, the vice -president Victoria Stoiciu, the leader of the PSD sector 1 Petre Florin Manole branch and the president of CJ Dâmbovița, Corneliu Ștefan, the sources quoted. In fact, Victoria Stoiciu urged vote for Nicușor Dan. “I still believe that in such moments there is no place of equivocation or hesitation. The pro-European trajectory of Romania and implicitly Nicuşor Dan need a firm support ”he wrote, on Facebook, Victoria Stoiciu.
Other PSD leaders, including Mihai Tudose, asked that the party not to position a candidate in the presidential final, given that the social-democrat electorate no longer listens to the vote received from the center. In Brăila, the fierce of Mihai Tudose, the winner came out of the golden candidate George Simion, with over 45%, in second place was Victor Ponta, and Crin Antonescu was only three, with only 18%.
Finally, the PSD leadership voted that the party not publicly support any of the two candidates in the second round. Therefore, part of the PSD electorate will put the stamp of George Simion, and some PSD mayors will mobilize voters for ballot boxes for Nicușor Dan, the sources quoted. After the presidential elections, the PSD has two options to remain in government: either they are allied with gold, if George Simion reaches the Cotroceni Palace, or restores the ruling coalition with PNL, USR and UDMR, in the case of a victory by Nicușor Dan. However, in the party there are also voices demanding the opposition, regardless of the result of the election on May 18, so that the PSD will return to the local and parliamentary elections of 2028.
