Ponta: I shall announce name of the premier I back after presidential elections' first round

Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Monday evening told B1 TV private television broadcaster that he would announce the name of the Premier he would back as candidate to president, after the first round of the presidential elections.

'I shall announce this [the Premier's name] — I have talked with my colleagues and I have a mandate from them and from my parliamentary majority allies — after the first round. I find it a bit soon. The campaign is concerned with the president project and this is what I will definitely present in the election campaign. Between the first and the second round, especially if it turns out I have winning chances, then it is natural to tell the people [the premier's name],' Ponta explained.

The Prime Minister said that Senate President Calin Popescu Tariceanu stood great chances to get to the second round of the presidential elections.

'Mr Tariceanu will run for president and, if things go as they do now in PDL-PNL, I believe he will get to the second round. (...) Excellent. If he gets to the second round, you will see the nicest and most natural relation between two competitors,' Ponta said. AGERPRES