The circus continues...
(Photo source) Today, Sunday 9th December, Romanians (or some of them at least) elected their new members for both Senate and Chamber of Deputies in a ballot considered crucial for the country’s political stability. Results were pretty fast in coming in (probably coz there weren't THAT many to count), at least for the exit polls, though the official results will be given tomorrow...
TVR1 reports that USL has won by a landslide with 56.96% for the Chamber of Deputies and 57.58% for the Senate, ARD 18.12%, PPDD (Dan Diaconescu People’s Party) 13.19%, UDMR 5.16% and PPMT 1.16%. The diaspora votes are yet to be counted as far as I know and I expect them to be pro-ARD, but anything is possible. How accurate the exit poll result is is really neither here nor there. What is clear is that the people of Romania have opted for USL. Welcome back Mr Iliescu and his cronies of the Copy-Paste Brigade. I expect Nastase is joyfully packing his suitcase as we speak, taking down his stocking from his prison-cell bars and shall surely be home for Christmas. If that is what the Romanian people want, then that is what the Romanian people will get.
Due to either the dreadful weather, sheer can't-be-botheredness or there's-no-one-decent-to-vote-forism, only 35.43% of the ENTIRE COUNTRY actually voted, so personally, I cannot see how this can be called a landslide victory... still, the people, however few, have spoken.
According to THIS site, 'Romania’s Ministry of Administration and Interior (MAI) received 66 signals for violations in the first hours after the start of the elections – between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m., the press service of the ministry announced for FOCUS News Agency.
“Between 07.00 and 11.00 hrs, through the National Reporting and Monitoring System 66 notification were recorded. Out of the total number of incidents, 37 events took place in the urban area, while 29 in the rural area. The most of these incidents took place in Bucharest (12) and in Buzau and Olt (11 in each of them).Two minor offences were identified and sanctioned, the fines applied amounting to 1,500 lei, and investigations are being conducted in two presumably criminal offences. A videoconference with the prefects on the severe weather conditions and on the development of the voting process is scheduled at the MAI venue at 3 p.m.,” the official press release informs.' I expect there'll be far more tales of voting corruption over the next few days.
Mr Basescu has indicated he won't appoint Ponta again, labelling him a "compulsive liar" and adding that he plagiarised his doctoral thesis - a shameful point that everybody knows but nobody is prepared to do anything about. Ponta says Basescu is a divisive figure who overstepped his role as president by meddling in government business.
"We won a clear majority, a majority recognised by our adversaries who have to accept the rules of democracy," Ponta said after the vote. However, he seems to have conveniently forgotten that he must put up with Mr Basescu until his mandate comes to an end in 2014 and also that the Constitution states that the PM should come from the winning party - USL is a coalition made up of FOUR parties, so there is nothing to say that he does, actually, have the majority if one breaks down the results category by category.
The power struggle between the top two leaders has driven a great many Romanians to distraction since USL's arrival in the spring, especially as the country remains one of the poorest and most corrupt members of the European Union. Romania is enduring deep austerity cuts in return for a €20 million ($26 million) bailout to help its floundering economy, but, as we know, it is not alone in having to tighten its belt.
Besides the failed bid to impeach Basescu in the summer, Romania has seen three prime ministers and Cabinets this year and huge anti-austerity protests. The EU and the U.S. criticised the government for failing to respect the rule of law and ignoring constitutional rules during the impeachment attempt. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe monitored today's vote.
God help Romania - she is far from having 'sortie de l'auberge'...
10th December, 13h: UPDATE (translated from MZ's always-wonderful analysis in French)
'41.7% of Romanians voted, frauds included. Perhaps the fraud wasn't on the same level as that seen during the summer referendum, but not to break the habit of a life-time, there was rather a lot of 'electoral tourism' going on, ie. people herded into buses and/or coaches and taken to vote, often rewarded with a bit of money and light refreshments.
One of the Romanian newspapers went as far as to entitle an article 'The Polls of the Illiterate'. It is true that the most active electoral group are above all simple people from the countryside. For them, it's a rare occasion for a party and also the day whereby they are taken into consideration. I don't know whether or not they believe that the 'new team' will build them roads, a water supply, somewhere to work or send doctors and teachers to their little corner of the world, but they vote not even knowing the name of the person they are electing more often than not. It is the village mayor who shows them who to vote for on their bulletin.
- the 4 parties of the governmental coalition (USL) have 60 % of the votes
- the President's party (ARD) 17%
- DD's party (PPDD) 14%
- the Hungarian minority party (UDMR) 5%
If Basescu refuses to name the current PM, Ponta, he risks yet another procedure of impeachment. That could take a while as, this time, to be absolutely sure of the result, the 4 parties count on modifying the Constitution.
Commentaires sur The circus continues...
- Adrian, I don't know whether the exam was 'passed' or 'failed' since I haven't read the press on that today. The 'circus' is the usual unfolding of Romanian politics which is, indeed, a 'circus' - there's no other word for it really... the 'cohabitation' will continue until Basescu's mandate runs out in 2014, so there'll be more dung flinging, cat-calling, dirty tricks from both sides and accusations at the fish market... yes, 'circus' is the word I would choose.
As for Obama, I've no idea, I have no opinion in terms of his re-election (and I don't like him much but Romney would have been far worse, IMHO) as I'm not American. I don't have much time at all for Gitenstein either though...
I know that these results are what you hoped for and I am glad for you that you are glad. As always, though, we differ in our opinions re: Romanian politics and I am not happy about them. They have saddened me very much. I had hoped that someone ELSE would have appeared by now - someone with decency, honesty and with no connection to the securitate or anything else. So far, perhaps with the exception of Iulian Craciun, nada. Well, time will tell.
Best,
Sarah - I would not say i am entirely happy since in my area the USL candidats were not what i was expecting. One of them is in fact a slimy defector from PDL ... I voted for those with the least chances to enter the parliament and wrote something on my ballot. If you followed my recent posts you will see my point. But i agree with the term "circus" in a certain way. We are 7,4 millon people watching a clown that presents him self "seful statului". Tragic show since he is the true embodiment of evil. At least i am happy that a large majority against him and his despicable yes-men is in power and just wait for them to wipe the floor with all those corrupt bastards. I am so furious as i have a theory. All those that are guilty of corruption and wrong doing in public office should be judged. But those that can be acused of that and they are even arrogant and defiing (just like Basescu is),those should have the end of Ceausescu ...
- Yes, the PM will come from a party, from PSD. A PM should get the vote of the Parliament anywhere in any democracy. And since three parties - PSD and PNL and PC and whoever says that agrees the proposal are proposing one person that will get the majority of the votes. What if those "coktail" of parties decide to support a minority cabinet formed by that one person and that specific party? Please name a country where a president would dictate over the parties how they should get along in parliament. Skip South America or Africa. Do you imagine that in France? Immagine that Front National would get 49% of mandates and manages to secure other 2 % in parliament. Would you immagine the refusal to nominate the FN candidate on the basis that it is an extremist party and turn to those having 20 % and no way of building a majority? I believe not.
- I don't get your point, Adrian, sorry. Maybe it's late and I'm tired. I am all for the people having what they voted for, and if they voted USL then so be it (sorry about the 'slimey defector' in your area). But there is a Constitution in Romania for a reason and I don't believe you can compare Romania with countries like France etc since democracy in Romania is definitely not the same ball-game, even if they do both sit under the umbrella of Napoleonic law. If the Ro constitution says that the PM must come from the party wirh the most votes, that is perfectly normal. But if that party is made up of 4 different parties, then it's only fair to count the votes and the slice that has the most of the 4 should be the one to nominate its PM. As you know, I loathe VP and don't much like TB either. What I would like to see very much is someone ELSE. If USL is the way forward, then that's fine. But I sincerely hope it is NOT with Ponta and his cronies at the helm.
I don't know much about who is in the other 2 parties for apart from PSD and PNL, the other 2 were off my radar and I purposely tried to shut off from this election for the sake of my own sanity. Maybe you could shine me a light on who else there is at the 'head' of the other two parties that make up USL. If there is anyone honest, decent, who have real qulaifications, aren't fakes and don't have backgrounds connected to the securitate ad Daddy wasn't a commie spy and they don't have a murderer for a mentor then great - let's have him. ANYTHING but Ponta is better than what we have now. I guess we're coming from the same direction really, Adrian, just we get caught up in the Ponta hurdle - The post i was having in mind to substantiate my position is:
http://www.a-craciunescu.blogspot.ro/2012/10/usile-de-duminica-7-deschise-si-lui.html
Have a nice, healthy and joyful 2013!
....pity not to have "something ELSE")....Yet!
We know that this is bull...t. The impeachment was 100% constitutional and just. More motivated than the discussion about the impeachment of Clinton that was on the point to be initiated many years ago.
"The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe monitored Sunday's vote"
And? Did we "fail" the exam? This is the circus about? Because in my oppinion, circus in reelection of Obama who appoints shameless representatives in the embassy of Bucharest such as Gitenstein.