USL will nominate candidates "on parity principle"

The Democratic Social Party (PSD) has completed the internal surveys on the designation of the candidates that will take part in the local elections next year.

The leaders of the Social Liberal Union (USL) will announce later this month the survey results, while the appointment of the candidates for county councils and city halls seats will take place in mid-September.

According to the USL protocol, the designation of the candidates will be made following the principle of parity.

USL candidates in local elections are the favorite positions in about 30 counties, being rated with very high percentage, according to PSD leader Victor Ponta.

Whatever the results will be, PSD will not require a renegotiation of the protocol and any changes will be made by local agreement.

Victor Ponta hopes that the designation of the candidates will "set aside vanity and personal interests".

"We wish that PSD candidates would team together with PNL candidates, but there are counties where both candidates are from the same party. Still, the team can be made also with the other political positions which we candidate for."

"Both parties have to struggle to win votes because the interest is common and any additional vote is given to both parties, not just to one", Victor Ponta said.

Liberals too rely on a good understanding between the two parties in appointing the candidates.

"The survey gives them an understanding of where the opposition representatives stand at a local level", said Dan Mihalache from PNL.

"It is important to find those local personalities which through their profile, through their notoriety add value to the political vote of USL", Dan Mihalache said.

The results of the surveys carried out separately by PSD and the Center-Right Alliance (ACD) will be reviewed by USL leaders in September, when the Union’s common candidates for next year’s local elections will also be appointed.

Translated by: Anca Toma
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University