The PSD's "rabbit in the hat"?

25/04/2008

Bucharest's mayoral race heats up as rival candidates battle for their parties' nominations.

By Paul Ciocoiu for Southeast European Times in Bucharest – 25/04/08

The PSD's Cristian Diaconescu. [Gabriel Petrescu]

Romania will hold local elections on June 1st. In Bucharest, the mayoral race already is providing considerable drama. With their initial front-runner challenged by his own protégé for the nomination, it took the opposition Social Democrats (PSD) nearly a month to decide on a candidate.

Sorin Oprescu, a renowned surgeon who previously mounted two unsuccessful campaigns, enjoyed a widespread reputation as the PSD's ace in the hole. Standing in his way, however, was District 5 Mayor Ovidiu Vanghelie, who owes much in his political career to Oprescu.

An internal brawl, lasting weeks, saw the party ranks clearly divided between the two rivals. Finally, the PSD settled on a compromise candidate -- former Justice Minister and current PSD spokesman Cristian Diaconescu. Observers see him as an unconventional politician who demonstrates tact and sophistication. In the meantime, Oprescu resigned from the party and joined the race as an independent.

Among bloggers, the choice of Diaconescu drew both cheers and jeers. The nomination is "first of all a certain gain for Bucharest … and secondly for the PSD," writes Doc. "The city deserves a tight competition for the mayoralty, and the inhabitants deserve valuable candidates to choose from."

Commenting on Doc's post, Camil also takes a positive view. "I am glad about Mr. Diaconescu's candidacy because I also think he will raise the level of debate during the campaign," he comments. At the same time, he doubts that Diaconescu will beat the Liberal Democratic candidate, former Interior Minister Vasile Blaga. "Bucharesters' deep-rooted anti-PSD-ism, stimulated by the political developments over the last year and a half, is too strong to be counterbalanced merely because the PSD comes forth with an honorable candidate," Camil concludes.

Itinerant suspects the candidate's virtuous reputation will suffer some serious blows. "It won't be long until the clichés about Mr. Diaconescu's 'diplomacy' and 'elegance' will implode," he predicts. "Moreover, the party itself will influence his conduct decisively during the campaign, so we will witness him in situations of embarrassing populism."

"I for one believe Diaconescu's nomination is a big mistake," Partizanu muses. "Bucharesters don't need someone with a starched suit but someone with common sense, an industrious person, representing the way Bucharest looks nowadays. Moreover, Bucharesters will perceive him as a compromise solution for PSD, and I doubt they will vote for him -- mainly since most of the voters will be disappointed over Oprescu being taken out of the race."

"Diaconescu may represent an electoral option in a city of culture but not in a capital choking on its own traffic," Partizanu concludes.