Romanian Social Democrats, Democrat Liberals Started Govt Talks – Sources
According to initial talks, sources within both parties said, social democrat Miron Mitrea was to be appointed prime minister if the social democrats were to win the elections, while if the elections were won by PDL, the prime minister would have been Vasile Blaga.
PSD and PDL sources told MEDIAFAX Wednesday that the two parties held a series of initial talks, to see how a potential government could be formed out of the two parties.
Thus the democrat liberal leaders proposed the Senate presidency to social democrat Mircea Geoana.
Another idea put on the table was a joint government led for two years by each of the parties. The government would have an equal amount of portfolios for the two parties, and only the prime minister would change after two years.
According to the mentioned sources, this conversation has not yet concluded, as the two parties failed to reach an agreement because both wanted to lead the government during the first two years.
PSD wanted this in order to take the moral high-ground of winning the elections and appointing the prime minister. PDL, in turn, wanted to hold the first two years of government, given the upcoming presidential elections in 2009, when Traian Basescu will run for another mandate.
According to the sources, the negotiations are held by Miron Mitrea on the social democrat side, helped by some of the party vice-presidents and other party leaders.