Romanian Social Democrat Nastase Backs Out Of Race For Party President

Nastase said he doesn’t want to lend any legitimacy to a competition he doesn’t believe in by running for party president, adding he has too much self-respect to do that.

Nastase, who has led the party previously, said he will remain a party member but doesn’t want to run for any position within it.

„I’ve decided not to run because I don’t want to be an extra in a badly written play,” Nastase said.

Nastase added he only wishes the party will stay together and reassess its political message.

Social democrats elect new leaders Saturday and, with Nastase out of the picture, the race for the party president seat will be disputed by current party leader and former presidential hopeful Mircea Geoana, party „renegade” Miron Mitrea, former foreign affairs minister Cristian Diaconescu and Constanta mayor Radu Mazare.

The outcome of these inner-party elections is eagerly anticipated since it could spell an upgrade, stagnation or even scission for Romania’s sole relevant leftist party and also the party with the alleged greatest number of members.