President Basescu: Between Ponta and Iohannis, I would vote Iohannis for president

Photo credit: (c) Simion MECHNO / AGERPRES ARCHIVE

President Traian Basescu qualified Prime Minister Victor Ponta as 'a weaker politician than I was'; speaking at B1 TV on Tuesday, he mentioned that the difference was obvious when they signed the cohabitation pact.

'I had my back against the wall after the elections, with a 70 percent majority that could have chosen not to discuss with me. Thank God, owing to Ponta's lack of experience I managed to sign with him this famous cohabitation pact. Yes, he was a weaker politician than I was. I have been a better negotiator than he was, and you see how he behaves in front of me (...) I'd also ask him to stop insisting for me to release all the [records of our] meetings, because he would be in a worse position,' Basescu answered several questions of the broadcast's hosts.

He also mentioned that, given his opinion on Ponta, if the incumbent prime minister would face Liberal leader Klaus Iohannis in the second round of the November presidential elections, he would vote for the 'lesser evil,' namely Iohannis.

'Yes, [between Ponta and Iohannis] I would vote Klaus Iohannis, just as I have already said publicly that between Ponta and [former Liberal leader] Crin Antonescu I would have voted for Crin Antonescu,' the president said. He added that Ponta has 'no chance' of getting his vote.AGERPRES

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