Romanian PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu begged his Liberal colleagues yesterday to stop attacking the PD (Democrat Party) and Traian Basescu. The PM even voiced a scenario: the PD was having negotiations with the PSD (Social-Democrat Party) for political collaboration. Confidential sources claim that behind closed doors Tariceanu told the Liberals that the Democrats were having talks with Social-Democrats Miron Mitrea in Bucharest and Ioan Rus in Cluj. Sources say Liberals' president claimed that Romanian interior minister Vasile Blaga was the Democrat in charge of talks with the PSD. On the other hand, Tariceanu warned the Liberals that Democrat leader Emil Boc was at very good terms with the PSD leader in Cluj Ioan Rus and that the two were considering eventual political collaboration. Tariceanu insisted, sources say, that both the PSD president Mircea Geoana and Romanian president Traian Basescu knew about the two scenarios. The PM also asked the Liberals to stop attacking the PD and breaking the protocol in the territory, as public opinion would get the feeling that the PNL was the only guilty of the Alliance breaking. At the end of the meeting Tariceanu pleaded for the need that the Alliance should work. He claimed there was need for dialogue between the Liberals and the Democrats. (...) Boc thinks about sanctions The PD president Emil Boc said yesterday that clear sanctions should be set against those breaking the Alliance protocol. He demanded Liberal Teodor Atanasiu to apologize publicly for what he had said on Saturday unless he could prove the collaboration of the PD and the PSD. He mentioned Atanasiu would better deal with defense matters, because his political statements displeased many PD members, as the latter were keen on a political thesis: not to have political collaboration with the PSD. As for the Alliance, Boc said it could go on only if the PD and the PNL would stop recriminations and obey the protocol.

Raluca PAPADOPOL, Razvan GHEORGHE