ALDE leader appeals to PNL members to save identity of Romanian liberalism

The leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) group of the European Parliament Guy Verhofstadt appealed on Thursday to the members of National Liberal Party (PNL) of Romania to save the identity of Romanian liberalism and make a correct decision in this sense at the party's congress at the end of this week.

The leader of the European Liberals argued that PNL, a party with a rich history and an activity respected by many voters, risks being sold to a party that has as members friends of Traian Basescu, many of them suspected of corruption.

He wished to clarify that he does not meddle in PNL's internal decisions, but showed that through the merger with the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL), the Liberals would give up their historic identity, and those who have voted for this party believed in its policy and liberal ideas.

In the opinion of the ALDE leader, it is very important that the personal ambitions of some leaders do not have primacy.

On this weekend a very important PNL congress will happen. We are worried of what will happen. PNL has decided to merge with another party that has as members friends of Basescu (...), who is in fact leading a corruption club. And we can't understand how the Liberals, the PNL leaders, have decided to associate themselves with such a party, given that liberalism fights for transparency and against corruption. (...) PNL has a rich history, the liberals are fighting against corruption, for honesty, liberty and transparency, Verhofstadt said in a press conference in Brussels.

It will not be our decision, it will be the decision of the PNL congress. But we wish that the identity of Romanian liberalism be saved, the identity of PNL, not that PNL be sold to a...