INTERVIEW. The explanations of the first social-democratic parliamentarian who switches to the PNL and supports Ilie Bolojan. “PSD is heading to a dead end. Road of no return”
Deputy Petre Emanoil Neagu claims that “the time has come to keep our word” and that is why he left PSD for PNL.
Petre Emanoil Neagu, 67 years old, was the president of the Buzău County Council before winning his deputy's mandate. He divided his political career between PSD and PNL: 18 years each.
PSD's decision to withdraw political support from mayor Bolojan led Neagu to leave the party led by Sorin Grindeanu. The deputy claims that he did it for stability and that the PSD is throwing the country into a crisis that was not needed, because the government rotation was coming next year.
“I didn't vote”
HotNews: – How did you vote at the PSD consultation?
Petre Emanoil Neagu: – I didn't vote because I didn't understand why we should have voted and what PSD achieves with that vote. In these difficult times from an economic point of view, what is happening at the global level, war at the border of the country, it was not the time to cause a government crisis.
The PSD and the other parties in the Coalition signed a protocol and made a commitment, not to the party members, but to the country, to get the country out of the deadlock, out of the problems, out of the deficit.
I have been part of the government for so long and we are still part of the government, so I didn't think it was the right way to ask if the party members still agree with Mr. Bolojan. It's like me going to a friend and telling him we'll still be friends if you move house. Such a thing is not possible.
I think that the PSD made a wrong decision and because I can no longer find myself in these stories, I have decided not to be active in the PSD group at the Chamber of Deputies and starting tomorrow I will be active in the PNL parliamentary group.
“I don't want to say big words, but we are in a delicate moment”
– Have you resigned from the party?
–No, but it's a formality. The party law provides that joining another party is equivalent to a resignation.
-Did you notify Messrs. Ciolacu and Grindeanu before making the decision?
–Honestly, yes, we had discussions. I explained a month ago, a month and a bit ago that there are certain things that I do not understand. Justice is somewhere halfway and considering that I no longer had certain compatibility with people from the county organization and I no longer felt useful, I said if I have no more use besides raising my hand I better take this step.
I did not think that we would end up in this situation of political crisis, but what happened starting last week made me support Prime Minister Bolojan and the Romanian government.
I don't want to say big words, but for stability, we are in a delicate moment. The road taken by PSD seems to me to be one of no return, it leads to a dead end.
“Are you a bologenist?” / “I could be proud of this epithet”
– Are you the second bologenist from the Buzău PSD organization?
–I could be proud of this epithet. This is about a principle: it's time to keep our word. If we have signed a protocol, an agreement with someone, it is good to see it through to the end. From the moment the deal comes to an end, then we talk about whether to continue. There were only 11 months left and the rotation was coming. They had no more patience for us to do this. What is happening now can only produce chaos.
– Mr. Manda and Grindeanu criticized Mr. Toma.
–Time will tell who is right. It doesn't seem right to me that in a democracy and a political party that wants to be democratic, you should be given certain labels. I know only one thing: the minority obeys the majority, but the majority must respect the minority.
– You said that PSD is not on the right line.
–Yes, I did not think that the last action was correct, beneficial for the country and for the PSD.
-Do you think you will be considered a traitor?
–Some yes, some no.
“At some point you have to put the collective interest above the personal interest”
-However, you immediately joined the PNL camp.
–It was a conjuncture because of the events that happened. I have some connections with the PNL, before I was a social democrat I was a member of the PNL for 18 years and even the president of the county organization during 2006-2008. I switched to PSD in 2008. I was in PNL for 18 years and PSD for 18 years. I am at the end of my political career. From my political experience I want to convey to the PNL organization.
– Are there other PSD parliamentarians dissatisfied with this decision taken on Monday?
–In their hearts I think so. I can't give my opinion. It's a difficult story. You have to have a conscience and a little courage because it is the law of parties. The party president signs the lists of councilors, mayors, parliamentarians, everyone wants to protect themselves. At some point you have to put the collective interest above the personal interest.
“I didn't come to PNL for functions”
-You entered the PNL meeting today.
– Yes, they had the National Permanent Office. I left there, I made my request to the Permanent Office of the Chamber of Deputies and from tomorrow I resume my normal parliamentary activity.
-Did you say hello or talk to Mr. Bolojan?
–Yes. First of all, it was natural, a thing of common sense, he greeted me, I greeted him. I knew Mr. Bolojan because we were both presidents of County Councils. He thanked me, congratulations and ended the conversation. I did not come to PNL for functions. I want to work in a team and depending on team results we will also have political results.
