Qui di seguito l'editoriale di Mircea Datu, direttore del giornale rumeno in lingua inglese "Nine o' clock":
At the end of a rather dull electoral campaign, Sunday, November 28 the nearly 18 million Romanian eligible voters are called to cast their voting option: for continuity (keeping the ruling party in power) or for change (bringing D.A. PNL-PD Alliance to power). The two major political offers on hand sought to win voters over to their side not so much through the actual content of their bid but mainly through populist promises (from PSD + PUR Union) or attacks and corruption and poverty charges on behalf of the democrat-liberal alliance.
The 12 Presidential runners focused especially on local stumps, the few radio and television debates avoiding direct confrontations (between Adrian Nastase and Traian Basescu especially) and offering plenty of platitudes instead. Granted Adrian Nastase and Traian Basescu opted for a cautious approach to touchy issues (pension rises to EUR 100 in 2007, in favor or against the flat-rate tax), the other candidates rushed to make some phantasmagorical proposals (uprooting corruption in 48 hours - C.V. Tudor) pension hikes of up to ROL 20 M/month (A. Radulescu) a.s.o. Personal attacks have been reined in, until C.V. Tudor burst out in his paper - “Romania Mare” this week, making trademark-style claims which, if proved true, could change elections results on the home straight.
Until then however, opinion polls (kept hush so far) re-emerged on the market, showing a 6 per cent gap between the PSD + PUR Union and D.A. Alliance, and an even greater one (10 per cent) between presidential runners Adrian Nastase and Traian Basescu. Poll predictions aside, a few things are certain. As to the parliamentary contest, the vote will be a negative one preeminently. It is not the results obtained by the ruling Government or the content of future programmes that will be taken into count when the rubber stamp is applied on the ballot, but fear or the wish for change especially. Those who want PSD to stay on do it not so much because they believe the all-sort of promises made by the Nastase cabinet over the past few weeks, but mainly from the fear that back in power, Democrats and Liberals will do the same kind of things they did between 1996 and 2000. Thinking that Traian Basescu, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, Radu Berceanu - all of them ministers four years ago, are still at the Alliance forefront, they would rather stick with the lesser of two evils.
The conservative segment of the electorate (old people living in rural areas) opt for the ruling governance as they got used to it and expect to get something from it, little as it is. But the “shock” therapies of the Romanian Democratic Convention (CDR), the frequent changes in government and the scandals four years ago fuel their mistrust and they won’t experience them again. Then, corruption charges coming from one camp are also met by replies from the other camp. Few are the senior leaders of the two camps who don’t have their name linked to highly exposed corruption affairs. It is the young people especially, and the intellectuals, always at odds with the power, (irrespective of political hue) who show a drive for experiments as varied as possible and ready to assume the risks.
“The third place” will most likely go to the C.V Tudor-led party, which is losing steam, with a shabby message least likely to repeat the performance of 2000. Finally, Hungarian Democratic Union in Romania (UDMR), also waits anxiously for the Sunday ballot, the conflicts with the Tokes wing raising questions over the 5 per cent of votes required for the Union to make it to parliament.Speaking of the presidential candidates, a runoff ballot pitting Adrian Nastase against Traian Basescu seems most likely. Granted that polls show the distance between the two being more substantial than that between the two parties they represent could be explained especially by relating the personality features of the two opponents to the specifics of the position they aspire for.Surprises however could come on behalf of the 30 per cent swing voters and/or absentees. Only extraordinary events in the remaining days - more or less possible - might galvanize a resigned portion of that electoral segment and tip the scales on one side or another.
Until then however, much more likely seems an outcome that will enable a legal relationship between the two alliances, to the extent of an alliance being the solution for the forming of the next government. The rather unusual attack launched by C.V. Tudor in the latest issue of the “Romania mare” magazine rules out for good a post-electoral alliance between PSD+PUR and Greater Romania Party (PRM). Given the circumstances, “a Government of national unity” becomes increasingly likely, a welcome option in view of Romania’s accession to the EU in 2007. What its membership would be like is yet to be seen. Would PD accept, along with PNL, this hypothetical partnership with PSD+PUR or the PNL alone would join the Union in that governing alternative? Therefore, November 28 might come down to a compromise: continuity or discontinuity.
