The USR Political Bureau decided on Wednesday to stop funding the electoral campaign for Elena Lasconi and to support Nicușor Dan. However, legally, USR cannot provide campaign funds for him.
The decision was made with only two votes against in the leadership meeting. 16 out of the 24 members voted to support Nicușor Dan, while a quarter abstained from voting.
The Political Committee will follow, which will officially decide that the party supports Nicușor Dan in the May elections.
The Political Committee is scheduled for April 24 (because it cannot be held earlier than 15 days), but an informal committee will be convened on Thursday.
There is no longer a way for Lasconi to reach the second round
"There is no longer a way for Lasconi to reach the second round. Today, in the National Bureau meeting, we decided to convene a Political Committee and to prioritize responsibility towards this country, even if it means a painful decision for the party and to vote to support an independent candidate for the position of President of Romania. It is not a decision we took lightly, it is a decision we made in the NB with two votes against," said Dominic Fritz, the mayor of Timișoara and vice president of USR.
We cannot prioritize egos
"It is a difficult moment for us as a party, it is a difficult moment for Elena Lasconi as well, but we cannot prioritize personal egos or party egos precisely because we are in a situation with a historic stake and we must respond to this stake with great responsibility. This day will remain a wound for USR, and certainly the decision that will follow in the Political Committee, but this wound can be healed with a victory for pro-European forces on May 4 and later on May 18," emphasized Dominic Fritz.
He appealed to PNL and UDMR "not to fall into the trap of PSD, which has a candidate" and to support Nicușor Dan.
"I appeal to PNL and UDMR, who today launch Crin Antonescu's candidacy, not to fall into the trap of PSD, which has a candidate, and we know that some PSD voters will vote for him. Do not repeat the mistake of last year of not believing in your own polls. They should also support the only candidate with a chance in the second round among the pro-Europeans, and that is Nicușor Dan," added Dominic Fritz.
"We have seen the numbers, and they don't look good. In times like this, we must do what is right for the country. It may sound like big words, but that's why we entered politics. Now it is good to stop the Ponta - Simion duo from entering the second round, and this can only be done by supporting Nicușor Dan. He is the founder of the party, we share common values, he can steer Romania in the right direction," stated Ionuț Moșteanu.
USR cannot finance Nicușor Dan's campaign
Fritz has already informed Nicușor Dan about this decision.
"I called him last night, after receiving the latest figures and it was clear that we would meet for this discussion, I called Nicușor Dan. It was not a long call, we did not negotiate.
I said we will talk again after the National Bureau meeting. (...) Yesterday on the phone, I expressed my confidence that there will be a continued partnership between him and USR when he becomes president," conveyed Dominic Fritz.
Legally, USR will not be able to finance Nicușor Dan's campaign.
"We cannot finance his campaign. We will approach donors we have collaborated with in the past and ask them to lend money for Nicușor Dan's campaign. This Political Committee that follows must validate this decision," explained Fritz.
Lasconi does not give in
Dominic Fritz was asked if the USR leaders have spoken with Elena Lasconi.
"Yes, we have talked to her. She was also present at the National Bureau meeting. She must speak for herself.
Of course, we all would have liked this decision to be one we make together with her.
Unfortunately, it seems she wants to continue on this path, and sadly, we can no longer support her on this path, and our appeal will be to support Nicușor Dan to our supporters, many of whom have already migrated towards him, and of course, we hope that everyone, including those who are not necessarily fans of Nicușor Dan, understand the stakes of these elections," explained Dominic Fritz.
"Once again, we are not playing games, but making decisions that are responsible for the country, and I don't know who wins if there is a candidate who gets 5 or 6% and dies with righteousness in hand.
What is important now for the country is to have at least one pro-European candidate in the second round. I don't know what system wants this or doesn't want this, I am sure that voters, Romanians, the citizens of Romania want this, and for this, we will fight," said Dominic Fritz.
Lasconi is polling very poorly, and there is a danger from Ponta
This point has been reached because two surveys conducted by USR showed that in the presidential final, the AUR candidate, George Simion, and the independent candidate Victor Ponta would enter, with Nicușor Dan ranking third.
The latest poll commissioned by the party shows that the USR leader has dropped to 4.1% in voting intentions.
The survey was reportedly conducted between April 2-7.
Several USR leaders, including Ionuț Moșteanu and Dominic Fritz, have asked Elena Lasconi since yesterday to withdraw from the race for Cotroceni in favor of Nicușor Dan.
However, Lasconi has refused (again) to withdraw and accused in an internal message that she is "subjected to pressures from the system" to withdraw and that "barons and USR gangs" are playing "the system's game."