Surely, Elena Lasconi is not the perfect leader, not the ideal solution for leading USR. And we have been talking about the downsides of her reign over time; some, such as a liberal leader’s stance on LGBTQ issues, have been clarified.
However, it is certain that, in this potentially lethal crisis moment, USR did not have a better option than Elena Lasconi.
And when I say this, I am not only referring to the minor-range opponents she defeated in the first round of internal elections, with nearly 70% of the votes, but also to the one who withdrew from the competition due to his German citizenship, Dominic Fritz.
He, an elegant figure and a very good mayor of Timișoara, would have only been the front to lead from behind by those who led the party to the disaster of June 9.
It is a known fact within the party and somewhat revealed by Cătălin Drulă himself in his speech upon resigning, warmly recommending Mr. Fritz as his replacement.
Why is Elena Lasconi the only solution of the moment for USR?
Because she embodies what we have rarely seen in Romanian politics since Traian Băsescu, a leader who is committed, with the mentality, charisma, reflexes, and leadership track record.
Of course, this is just a premise, one that Ms. Lasconi can either confirm or not. She may politically grow to the stature of a national leader, which she does not yet possess, or she may become inflated like Cătălin Drulă and burst.
She can either accumulate to become a formidable presidential candidate, which she is currently only on emotional grounds, or she can turn into a rhetorical soap bubble waiting to be burst, akin to the former USR president. It all depends on her.
For now, I would mention, still on the premise chapter, that while the party was heading like an anesthetized herd towards the monumental foolishness called an alliance with two dinosaur parties, Elena Lasconi publicly demanded a serious analysis and careful consideration of this decision, which led USR to miss the 8% threshold in some local and county councils.
Under these circumstances, it is politically rational to announce that USR should go alone in the upcoming elections, and for that, "they need to get down on the field, in sneakers, where there is poverty, fear, and a need for help." Where USR withdrew to chew on largely regurgitated slogans.
The real opportunity for Elena Lasconi
Ultimately, it is up to USR to decide whether to give Ms. Lasconi a real chance to succeed beyond the victory in the first round. The decision will be made at the congress that will elect the new National Bureau.
It will be the moment for the party to show whether it has learned anything from the fatal errors of the past. Primarily, the mistake of electing a president only to then vote for a hostile leadership structure that blocks exactly the project with which it won. The case of Dacian Cioloș.
If USR wants to give Elena Lasconi a real chance to try to save a party on the brink of coma, as evidenced by the anemic presence in the elections, it should also give her a majority in the National Bureau. Not overwhelming, as the lack of opposition is dangerous, but sufficient to implement a project.
And Ms. Lasconi's list indeed includes good names, first and foremost, in my opinion, Claudiu Năsui, one of the most balanced among the USR members and certainly well-defined ideologically as a liberal.
On the other hand, perhaps the party should remember what it understood by "penalties" within PSD and PNL, politically rather than legally, and reject an offer equivalent to denying its own principles that led to the percentages of the past.
What does Ms. Lasconi need to do in the first stage?
To revitalize the party, remind it of its spirit, instill confidence in its capabilities and internal democracy, take it out of its whining state, and reconnect it with the lost electorate, including by bringing back those ousted by the practices of the former leadership. For now, the discourse of a victor has been inclusive, not exclusive.
And this is an important objective not only for the party; its fate ultimately matters only to its members and supporters. But the fate of the Opposition in Romania is extremely important for the entire society.
After the monumental failure of USR in the euro-locale elections, following the disastrous policy of alliances, the coalition is playing on all fronts, its strength is only questioned by internal frictions, and the only real opposition is the untouchable sovereignist one.
It is dangerous for democracy, it is toxic, so the fate of the Opposition is important far beyond their core supporters, even for those who do not sympathize with them at all. But USR as it had become was useless. Whether Ms. Lasconi will change this dismal status remains to be seen, but, as I mentioned, it is the best chance.
As for the presidential candidacy, I am skeptical about Ms. Lasconi's chances of winning the elections this year, and, as I mentioned, I do not believe she is truly ready yet. I appreciated that on Europa FM she acknowledged her need to learn and announced her intention to surround herself with the best advisors in key areas.
What she can do and what I believe she will do is to revive a game that appears completely flattened, between entrenched structures and pseudo or grotesque candidates.