Romanian USR Party Drops Backing for Its Leader: No Second Round Chance

At a meeting on April 9, USR leaders decided to set up a Political Committee to withdraw support for the party’s chair, Elena Lasconi, in the presidential elections in May. Members of the political formation also expressed their intention to support Nicusor Dan in the elections, HotNews reports. “Lasconi cannot qualify for the second round. Today we decided to convene the Council, taking into account the real danger to Romania. Even if it will be a painful decision for the party, let’s vote in support of an independent candidate at this congress. This decision was deliberate, it was made in the National Bureau with only two votes against,” Dominic Fritz, one of the USR leaders, said at the conference. As a result, Elena Lasconi no longer has a campaign budget, but at least she will remain president of the USR until the presidential election. “If the Political Committee confirms this decision, I think it will be natural for her to leave,” Dominic Fritz said. Recall that in the last year elections, which were canceled, Lasconi reached the second round.