PES activists interview: Mircea Dan Geoana, March 2007

Since 2005 Mircea Dan Geoana is the Chairman of the Romanian Social-Democrat Party (PSD). Before he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania from 2000 to 2004.  In this capacity, he also served as OSCE Chairman-in-Office. As member of the Senate (since 2004), he is the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and member of the European Integration Committee.

Costina: I am very concerned about the actual political situation in Romania: The power struggle between Prime Minister and President. What can the PSD do, to change the situation?

Mircea Geoana: Dear Costina, we share your concern, especially because the struggle you’re talking about has reached its climax in the past days, as the two officials are arguing not only privately, but also publicly, during broadcasted talk-shows. What is even more serious is that the president and the prime-minister are not arguing upon problems of national interest but on problems regarding the interest groups surrounding them. And because we couldn’t have just passively observe how the on-going crisis provoked by the war between the prime-minister and the president consumes the energy of the political class and of the society as well in a moment when Romania should focus now, more than ever on the challenges of its status as a new member of the European Union, we have decided to initiate the procedure of suspending the president. We are determined to go on with the procedure as the sole possibility of reinstalling a climate of normality and equilibrium on the Romanian political scene. Moreover, we have requested the prime-minister to present the Parliament a new, restructured cabinet that, ready to handle real problems of the society and not political conflicts with the president.

"We share your concern about the actual political situation in Romania - we have decided to initiate the procedure of suspending the president."

"The so called centre-right "Truth and Justice Alliance" in government use the fight against corruption in their discourses as a weapon against political adversaries."


Mihaela: Do you think that the so called centre-right "Truth and Justice Alliance" in government is successfully fighting corruption? What would you do to improve the situation? 

Mircea Geoana: Unfortunately, the so-called Alliance for Truth and Justice has proven itself incapable to fulfil its commitment regarding the fight against corruption. This is due to the fact that they use the fight against corruption in their discourses as a weapon against political adversaries. As the recent scandals between the president and the prime-minister have proven, the main source of corruption is to be found inside the D.A. Alliance. The president and the prime-minister have mutually accused themselves, in public, of committing serious acts of corruption. Even more, neither in regard to the reform of justice, notable progress is not recorded. Recently, the Parliament gave out clear signals regarding this issue by adopting a motion against the Minister of Justice who has reinstalled political control over the designation of prosecutors. Unfortunately, the minister did not have the dignity, after the Parliament having adopted the motion, to resign, stating that she is not obliged to resign, in order to keep her position.

Brian: Has the PSD developed from the Communist party (of Ceauşescu) like most social democratic parties in Eastern Europe? Isn't this heritage of coming from ex-communist parties an obstacle for a wider social democratic success in Eastern Europe? How can a European socialist movement contribute to make people realise the future prospects of social democracy instead of looking to the past.

Mircea Geoana: The Social-Democrat Party is not an extension of the former Romanian Communist Party, but of inter-war social-democracy. The communist heritage is a form of disparagement intensely practiced by right-wing parties that have lost their meaning after almost 20 years from the fall of communism. We cannot deny that among us are former members of the Romanian Communist Party, as well as in other parties. Traian Basescu, the president of Romania was a member of the Communist Party, and before 1989, he was the leader of an institution outside the boarders. In fact, the situation is similar for all Romanian political parties. I believe that the obsession to talk about communism keeps us blocked from taking care of the future. Romania had 4 million members of the Communist Party. We cannot progress if we launch a witch hunt against those who used to be members of the Communist party. Many years have passed from the fall of communism. Romania is a member state of the European Union. The challenges have changed and I firmly believe that we do not need to consume our energy on problems invented by right-wing parties because they have problems with their results.

"We cannot progress with a witch hunt into the past. We must confront the challenges of the future as a state of the European Union."

"In fact that the force of our party resides in our capacity to mobilise our activists."

Lucile: Who are the activists of the Social Democratic Party?

Mircea Geoana: I am pleased to inform you that the Social Democrat Party is the strongest party in Romania, and perhaps one of the strongest in Europe, in terms of its number of members and activists.  We have over 400.000 party members and we are able to present candidates for all the 40.000 elected positions in Romania, spanning from local counselors in communes to members of the European Parliament. As a matter of fact, even our political competitors openly acknowledge the fact that the force of our party resides in our capacity to mobilise our activists, in particular during electoral campaigns.  I am convinced that this political force will also be reflected in the participation of our youth in the PES activists project. As far as I know, the Social Democrat Party, with its over 500 activists, is one of the most significant groups of PES activists in Europe. I would like to wish the Romanian and all PES activists all the success in their activities!

 Jorn: I am happy that Romania has finally joined the EU. I have heard that you have a large poverty in your country, especially amongst children. It’s hard to imagine for someone from Denmark like me. What are the conditions now and what has to be done to improve them?

Mircea Geoana: Dear Jorn, I must state that there are many exaggerations in the image created by the poverty in Romania. Solutions? It is my honest opinion that only the left wing can offer solutions for equilibrium. Bucharest is one of the capitals with the most luxury cars of Europe. A differentiated tax system, which would allow the redistribution of wealth in the benefit of the poor, is a solution which we will implement after we have won the elections.

"Bucharest is one of the capitals with the most luxury cars of Europe. We must redistribute wealth."

I believe in the strength of the Romanian nation to fulfil its European dream-not only geographically, but also from the perspective of living standards for all citizens."

Hakim: How can Romania become a protagonist of the fight for a new European social policy without hindering its own economic and financial development? Could it be some kind of laboratory of social policy combined with a fair and inclusive economic growth?

Mircea Geoana: I believe in the strength of the Romanian nation to fulfil its European dream-not only geographically, but also from the perspective of living standards, not only for privileged groups but for all citizens.  Our answer to the ultraliberal policies of the current government that has created, more than ever, social inequality, is a Social Network at the national level, in which the state, the church, socially responsible companies and citizens are partners and mutually sustain themselves. We do not sustain an omnipotent and all-knowing state, but a state that will bring trust among people, among people and institutions, for the reconstruction of a solidary society.

Achim: Dear Mircea, does Romania support a Common Foreign & Security Policy for Europe? Is the foreign policy of the PSD closer to the USA and UK or to the majority of EU states, for example concerning the Iraq war?

Mircea Geoana: It is true that, during President Basescu’s mandate, Romania’s foreign policy was mainly concerned with the London-Washington Axis rather than with the one shared by the majority of members of the European Union. The Social Democratic Party, as well as I, firmly believes in a balanced position. In spite of this, due to the fact that Romania is one of the countries at the Eastern boarder of the Union, we must be more attentive and rigorous in all issues concerning security. The common foreign security policy does bring benefits for everyone and will succeed in making Europe a safer environment.

Sven: Romania sends the second largest group of MEPs from Eastern Europe to the European Parliament. This brings great influence but also great responsibility. Do you think that the PSD will achieve good results in the upcoming European elections in May 2007? Will the far right loose votes? What can other Europeans do to support you achieving these two aims?

Mircea Geoana: Dear Sven, the Social Democratic Party is confident that it will achieve good results at the elections for the European Parliament, for which we seriously prepared for. Our candidates are chosen on the basis of a transparent and democratic procedure and the criteria for their selection were related to their abilities and professionalism. In regard to our offer, on the occasion of Jan Marinus Wiersma’s recent visit to Bucharest, we have decided to work together for our project entitled “Social Romania”, approved at the Congress, the social-democrat project addressing Romania’s problems, to be more related to the project “The New Social Europe”. Actually, “Social Romania” is only a part of the on-going debate of the entire European socialist family, adapted to the real problems of Romania. We have requested support, even technical and intellectual support, in order to synchronise the offer of Romanian social democracy to the global offer of European social democracy. We gladly accept help, including from your part.