The masquerade of the PSD-PNL confrontation does not include the division of sinecures. The way they perfectly understand each other on settling the stakes, the way they support each other’s clients and impostors is a very telling proof of the true nature of the relationship between the two parties.
As a recent example, Roberta Anastase did not reach the BNR CA, for which she lacks minimal qualifications, without the support of the PSD. It is also very interesting that in the BEC, the PSD representative voted for the interpretation that would give a party member the right to be on a party’s electoral list, thus allowing Mr. Iohannis to enter the PNL list without resigning from the position of president.
Marcel Ciolacu did not even flinch to sign for the increase in the president's budget adjustment by 7 million lei, without even pretending transparency, and after all the scandals regarding Klaus Iohannis' lavish expenses.
Mr. Ciolacu is not curious about the secret cost of renting luxury planes, paid for with public money, just as he is not very interested in the cost of the golf course in Neptun, even though RA-APPS is under the Government's authority.
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In matters truly important to them, PSD and PNL collaborate seamlessly, while each interprets their most advantageous electoral score.
PNL needs to mobilize its electorate with the lure of a so-called right-wing government, actually anti-PSD, heralded by Nicolae Ciucă. Certainly, there are opponents within PNL to collaboration with PSD, and they are known, but in the minority. The majority is not fundamentally bothered by the alliance with PSD, but only desires a change in power dynamics.
In this regard, Marcel Ciolacu has come up with a double assurance. On the one hand, if he becomes president, PSD will not hold the position of prime minister and would appoint Nicolae Ciucă as prime minister without any reservation: "I still see it as a good option, considering the current context (...), I even see it as normal to have a PSD-PNL coalition again".
Marcel Ciolacu's statement pours cold water on speculations about the breakup of the duo, that they no longer speak to each other, that they do not call each other, that they take back their promises: "Trust cannot be lost for refusing to make a law for a single person. Together we made correct decisions, we stood shoulder to shoulder alongside Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă".
They do not retract anything, and certainly, nothing would please Marcel Ciolacu more than to continue with this duo even beyond 2024.
But for that, of course, Nicolae Ciucă must reach the second round. And to get there, the liberal electorate must be mobilized with the hope that PSD will be sent into the Opposition.
However, this bait also benefits Marcel Ciolacu. For PSD to win the elections but remain in the Opposition is already a trauma for which there is only one treatment: to have the president who appoints the prime minister. Whether this will be from PSD or PNL becomes a detail; what is important is not to be left out.
Thus, mobilizing the PNL electorate for an anti-PSD government will also raise the mobilization of the PSD electorate, so they do not experience another setback.
At the same time, Marcel Ciolacu is very careful not to repeat a classic mistake - angering the hostile electorate. This is how they always lost in the second round, even when they were convinced that only popcorn would not be enough until they installed their candidate there.
The more he is attacked, the calmer and more pacifist Marcel Ciolacu appears. So, PNL's attacks are good for him.