Antonescu: Iohannis is Liberals' candidate for presidency

The former leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL) Crin Antonescu announced that Liberal head Klaus Iohannis was elected on Monday as the party's candidate for the presidential elections to be held in November in Romania.

'You know the result of the vote. Everybody is happy — Mr. Iohannis, because he was nominated; the party, because it nominated him; myself, because I got what I asked for: the designation through a clear, fair, civilized, elegant vote; we'll see about the rest,' Antonescu declared.

Asked whether he will publicly support Iohannis, Antonescu answered that he has already spoken openly about the matter, and his previous answer stands.

'As long as I am a member of PNL, all the more that I am a former chairman of this party, I obviously know what I have to do,' he said.

On a question on possible worries for Iohannis about the number of votes for the former leader, Antonescu answered, 'I think this is a normal result, within normal limits, I don't see why [Iohannis should worry]. What did you expect, no one voting for me? It's not worrying at all. It's a party where a normal competition was held, with a vote following a fair procedure.'

Antonescu mentioned that the vote was secret, in accordance with PNL's statute.

He added that Iohannis presidential project was not questioned, because there was no such project.

PNL's Permanent Delegation produced 110 votes for Iohannis as presidential candidate, and 56 for Antonescu. AGERPRES