Stolojan: Romania will have a new government

In an exclusive interview with EURACTIV.ro, former presidential
candidate Theodor Stolojan expresses his conviction that
the coalition talks in Romania will soon succeed.

Theodor Stolojan was the presidential candidate of
Romania’s Justice and Truth Alliance until his withdrawal from the
race in October for health reasons. His candidacy was taken over by
Traian Basescu, who led the liberal Alliance to victory on 12
December. 

In his first interview since the elections, granted to EURACTIV
Romania, Stolojan expresses his trust in Basescu and underlines the
new president’s determination to rid the public
institutions of all forms of political interference. 

He said that he was “sure” that a new government will emerge in
Romania out of the predictably tough coalition talks ahead, if only
because “Romania needs a government”.

Since the results of the November parliamentary elections in
Romania were inconclusive, leaving no single party holding a
majority, the political parties are now vying to set up a
coalition. Basescu is determined not to settle for a government led
by a Social Democrat prime minister, since he believes that a
‘cohabitation’ would “lead to political instability”. 

Under Romanian law, if parliament proves unable to approve a
government within 60 days, the president can dissolve the
legislature and new elections would have to be called.

As to the chances for his staging a political
comeback, Stolojan would only say that “I will see in a few
days”.

Full
interview

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