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PSD suggests holding simultaneously constitutional referendum, first round of presidential election
The Social Democratic Party (PSD), in the ruling Social Liberal Union (USL), will make a proposal that the revision of the Constitution be held concomitantly with the first round of the presidential election, PSD National Executive Committee decided on Friday at a meeting at Mamaia.
'We will suggest that the referendum to modify the Constitution be held at the same time with the first round of the presidential election. This way there is enough time - one more year - to both receive the opinions of the Venice Commission and the European Commission and to improve the draft. Likewise, the quorum requirement will also be met,' Ponta said at the end of the meeting.
He announced that the ruling USL and the parliamentary groups will act so that by amending Law 315 of 1998 concerning development regions they achieve a switchover to decentralisation and a devolution to the regions of as many powers of the national Government as possible.
Another decision regarded the organisation of the European election. According to Ponta, PSD is set to come in first and win at least 35 per cent of the vote.
The PSD executive leadership also dis cussed the party's four medium- and long-term fundamental guidelines.
'First of all, we have to provide as good a governance as possible that has economic development and important projects, so that we may end well our term in office in 2016 and remain then Romania's main party able to continue governance after 2016. Secondly, we have to carry through the decentralisation and regionalisation project that is essential to Romania and do so when our Government is in power. Thirdly, let us go forward within the terms established by the Constitution Court with a modern, European political system by amending the Constitution, a political system that will no longer permit in the future the President to abuse office and claim rights against the other political forces, against the population and the interests of Romania, irrespective of who Romania's President may be. Fourthly, we have to put substance into the 'Romania 100-2018' project, via the PSD political structures, then USL, Parliament and Government through cooperation and dialogue with all the political forces. We have to put substance and say how we see what has been done over the past 100 years and especially what is to be done for the period immediately ahead, what our medium-and long-term projects for Romania are,' said Ponta.
Antonescu: First round of presidential elections - optimum date for Constitution revision referendum
Chairman of the National Liberal Party (PNL, a member of the ruling Social Liberal Union alliance) Crin Antonescu said on Friday that the first round of presidential elections would be a suitable date to call the referendum on the revision of the Constitution; he also pointed out that as regards the number of regions Romania would be reorganized into, the entire related process should be such as not to complicate things.
'The Constitution amendment draft, at least in a first version, is complete. We must make a tactical decision now. From our point of view, a referendum under the terms of the Constitutional Court ruling I no longer discuss, but which we don't have the power to change, is welcome if the Romanian citizens have the chance to really pronounce themselves, to see their vote counting, therefore it will be probably deferred to next year. We will make the final decision on this matter after we consult with our partners in the USL,' Antonescu said after the meeting of the PNL Standing Delegation.
He was asked if he considers the first round of presidential elections to be the optimal date for the referendum on the amendment of the Fundamental Law.
'The regionalization variants are still under debate. As far as the referendum date is concerned, under the terms of the CCR ruling which is not ours and which we cannot influence, yes, the first round of the presidential elections would be a suitable date,' Antonescu said.
The Liberal leader was asked if he agrees with the organization of ten regions, as the Social-Democrats suggest.
'Lots of arguments speak equally for eight, ten or 12 regions. I don't think that the number is essential, but the envisaged overhaul and functioning of the institutions so that regionalization should not mean complicating things, but simplifying them,' Antonescu said.