UPDATE Antonescu: I announce my intention of not running for President

National Liberal Party (PNL) Chairman on Saturday announced his intention of not running for President in the elections this year, as a step towards speeding up the project of unifying the Right-Wing forces and for designating as soon as possible a single candidate of the Right-Wing to Romania's Presidency.

He told a press conference that he decided to end his interim chairmanship of PNL.

"Today, there no longer is the danger that the leftovers of the PSD clan prevent PNL from going to the right direction. Today, it can no longer be doubted, and the Congress will surely certify our natural option for EPP. Today, the measures for building a great Right-Wing party in Romania have finally begun. That is why, I even end my interim chairmanship and on Monday I shall ask my colleagues of the Central Political Bureau to effectively take over all the duties that must be exercised this month which separate us from the Congress of June 28-29," Crin Antonescu said.

He also announced his decision related to giving up the candidacy to Romania's Presidency.

"I know I am the most powerful candidate the Right-Wing could have. I am saying this because I have the stamina, the personality, the figure, the political experience necessary, the ideas, the vision and the capacity to fight so PSD cannot put its hands on Romania's Presidency in autumn. (...) At the same time, I know the Romanian political class, the Romanian Right-Wing and all those who claim this title. I know the Romanian media. I know the manner in which opinions are created and dissolved on the market," Crin Antonescu said.

He added that he could not disregard all those things.

"I know true politicians are those who change the polls and not polls those which...