PM Ponta: Sole PNL candidate worthy of being presidential competitor is Crin Antonescu

Photo credit: (c) Cristian NISTOR / AGERPRES PHOTO

Prime Minister Victor Ponta has stated on Thursday that if the Social Liberal Union (USL) had still existed, he would have never ran against Crin Antonescu in the presidential elections and that he considers the former National Liberal Party (PNL) chairman as the sole potential presidential competitor from PNL and the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL).

"I always told my colleagues that I will never run for PSD [Social Democrat Party] chairmanship against Adrian Nastase. In 2010, five days before the PSD Congress, Adrian Nastase announced he is withdrawing and then I announced my candidacy, on Saturday, and I won. Crin Antonescu knows full well, because for three years I've seen him more than I saw my family, that I would've never ran against him. If USL had still existed, I wouldn't run, if USL returns and we rebuild what we said we'd do, yes, I'll withdraw. If the situation is as is now, I will surely run against him", said Ponta at private online broadcaster DC News.

He added that the only candidate that could reach the second round of the presidential elections and who is a worthy competitor is Crin Antonescu.

"Surely, he who enters the second round will be a powerful candidate and it's going to be a tight result. The only candidate [from the right-wing] who is worthy of the presidential seat is definitely Crin Antonescu, because if you want to be the president of a country you need to have a certain vision, a certain level in internal politics, in foreign politics, to raise hopes, expectations, to say "choose me as President because this is how I see Romania". With all due respect towards Mr. Blaga and Mr. Iohannis, they are not up for the task, they are persons with certain limits and I hope nobody takes it as an insult. I...

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