PNL and PSD Rally EU Leaders in Romania for Pre-electoral Showdown
In the coming months, PNL and PSD are orchestrating the arrival of key EU leaders and those from member states to Romania for pre-electoral assemblies, aiming to underscore the relevance of Coalition parties at the European level.
The spotlight is particularly on the EPP Congress, scheduled for March 6-7 at Romexpo, where 14 heads of state, Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission), Roberta Metsola (President of the European Parliament), and European Commissioners will gather. Even Karl Nehammer, the Austrian Chancellor and a familiar figure in Romanian politics, is expected. The EPP Congress will also finalise the electoral strategy for 2024, and Ursula von der Leyen is anticipated to announce her bid for a renewed term as the head of the European Commission.
Victor Negrescu, MEP and Quaestor of the European Parliament, announced that European Socialists are also gearing up for political events. He stated, “European Socialists will visit Bucharest twice. From February 19-21, there will be a meeting of the S&D group from the European Parliament in Romania. In early April, on April 7, as announced by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, Romania will host a meeting of PES leaders in Bucharest.”
However, a nuance exists regarding the April meeting. At the end of October, Marcel Ciolacu announced a PES Congress. He mentioned, “Discussions will commence, and we will outline a list, propose it to the National Political Council, and undoubtedly, the list will be launched with the PES Congress, where all prime ministers and social-democratic presidents from Europe will be in Bucharest,” on October 24.
The Congress will eventually take place in Rome on March 2, where Commissioner Nicolas Schmidt is likely to be elected as the candidate for the social-democratic political family for the head of the European Commission.
For PNL, the final lists of candidates proposed by the Liberals for the new European legislature will probably be presented at the beginning of March, along with the EPP Congress. For the Social Democrats, a clear date for announcing the complete and final lists for the European Parliament elections has not been decided yet. However, all political formations must submit the lists to the Permanent Electoral Authority 60 days before the election date, which is April 9, the deadline.
Expert Perspectives on the Series of Events
“Adevarul” sought insights from several experts to interpret the relevance and role of the events in Bucharest.
“For PNL, organising the EPP Congress in Bucharest is a repeat success, following the 2019 event at Romexpo. In that year, PNL won the European Parliament elections with 27%. The presence of European leaders does not necessarily bring a direct electoral boost. However, organising the event in Bucharest could be used as an argument for the idea that liberal leaders are influential in European politics,” said political analyst George Rîpă.
He also pointed out other aspects. “A risk is the presence in Bucharest of the Austrians from the EPP, especially since Nehammer’s people oppose Romania’s full integration into Schengen. The issue must be handled carefully. The event in March is an opportunity for Romanians to see and hear President Klaus Iohannis,” Rîpă noted.
The political analyst also spoke about the potential of the socialist meeting. “Marcel Ciolacu did not achieve the same feat of having the PES Congress in Bucharest, as triumphantly announced in 2023. Only a political meeting was offered, which will not have the same splendour and scope. Ciolacu is, however, for the first time in a long time, the first PSD president accepted in Brussels,” concluded George Rîpă.
Communication specialist Radu Delicote talked about the relevance of the events. “They will matter symbolically but also in political negotiations at the European level. Such events take place only before European Parliament elections and help in consolidation at the European level. PNL and PSD will come with pro-European messages, with platforms that complement the strategies of the European families they are part of,” said Delicote.
Moreover, the specialist in public communication emphasised that the transmitted message would be a clear pro-EU one, unlike formations that sing the requiem of the Union. “They will convey the fact that they remain oriented towards the West, appreciate EU policies and the Union, but also that there is openness and flexibility for collaboration between the major European families,” Delicote concluded.
Text source: Adevarul, photo source: Digi24.
Editor: Andreea Gudin
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