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Romanian Premier to Run for President in Move to Shore Up Party

Romanian Premier to Run for President in Move to Shore Up Party

(Bloomberg) -- Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila plans to run for president in a move that may cause friction within the ruling coalition as her main ally is also considering his candidacy.

The ruling Social Democrats leaders pressed Dancila to join the presidential race as no other candidates were seen standing a chance against incumbent Klaus Iohannis, who’s seeking re-election with the support of the opposition Liberal Party in the Nov. 10 ballot. A final decision on Dancila’s nomination will be taken during a wider party congress on Aug. 3.

“We’re determined to win these elections,” Dancila told reporters on Tuesday. “I don’t think our partners will leave the governing coalition because they are responsible people who realize that the country’s stability is very important.”

Romanian Premier to Run for President in Move to Shore Up Party

According to opinion polls, Dancila wouldn’t advance to a second round with Iohannis, while Calin Popescu Tariceanu, the head of the junior ruling ALDE party, is scoring higher but still trailing the president. The late entry of a candidate from the country’s largest party is the result of infighting, a shock defeat in European Parliament elections in May and the jailing of its former leader Liviu Dragnea.

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Other candidates include Dan Barna, backed by the newly formed alliance between Save Romania Union and Plus, led by former Premier Dacian Ciolos, which secured an important win in the EU Parliament vote.

To contact the reporters on this story: Andra Timu in Bucharest at atimu@bloomberg.net;Irina Vilcu in Bucharest at isavu@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Andrea Dudik at adudik@bloomberg.net, Michael Winfrey

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