Romanian Social Democrats take radical decision
Valeriu Zgonea, the executive president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the largest left wing party in Romania, has been expelled from this political group.
România Internațional, 28.04.2016, 14:22
The Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the largest left-wing party in Romania, on Wednesday took the surprising decision to expel its executive president, Valeriu Zgonea, from the party. Zgonea was the one who strongly contested the party leader Lviu Dragnea, who has refused to resign his party position in spite of the fact that he received a suspended sentence of two years in prison for election fraud in the “Referendum” case.
Prosecutors say that in 2012, as acting Secretary General of the Social-Democratic Party, Liviu Dragnea coordinated a complex network aimed at swinging the vote of the referendum held on the suspension of the then right-wing president Traian Basescu. The Court also found that Dragnea used all the means at his disposal to persuade local Social-Democratic officials to illegally take people to voting polls so that the referendum might pass. The referendum did not pass due to lack of quorum, and Traian Basescu remained in power until the end of his mandate in 2014.
However, in spite of the fact that he no longer is a PSD member, Valeriu Zgonea will keep his position as Chamber of Deputise speaker, for as long as the social democrats allow him to.
Liviu Dragnea, on the other hand, has said he regrets his colleagues’ decision to expel Zgonea. Liviu Dragnea: “Before the meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee I talked to most of its members and urged them to find a middle of the road solution. Nevertheless, their position has been firm and has not been generated by the personal opinions of the Executive Committee’s members, but by the talks held these past few days with party members and supporters, whose opinion has been very firm.”
After being expelled from the party, Valeriu Zgonea has said the decision is unfair and that it is for the first time when speaking his mind is considered a crime.
Valeriu Zgonea: “I have not understood, from the Integrity Committee’s report, where exactly in the statute of this political party, in the 2016 Romania, is stipulated that voicing one’s opinion is a punishable crime. I have complied with my colleagues’ decision. I will always be faithful to the Social Democratic values, I believe in the Social Democratic Party and I believe this party can be reformed. Unfortunately, coordinated efforts against the decisions of the judiciary, seem to be more important than anything else.”
According to Liviu Dragnea, Valeriu Zgonea will continue to be the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies until after Easter, when the party decides on who takes his place.
(Translated by Elena Enache)
