The first leadership meetings organized by Romanian parties after the May 19 referendum led to harsh statements from the camp that supported President Traian Basescu in the poll, to promises of deep analyses from those who initiated the attempt to remove Basescu from office through the vote and with resignation calls for those blamed for the ‘failure’ of the anti-Basescu drive on Monday.

The Democratic Party (PD), Basescu’s main supporter called for early elections on Monday and said it would not join the government in the current political phase.

For his part, prime minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu, leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL), one of the two forces behind the attempt to oust Basescu through the referendum, said that it would stick to government and would plan for the reunification of the Right.

And a six-hour long meeting of the Social Democratic Party (PSD, main opposition group) leadership led to fierce fighting between the top current leaders and an influential faction of the party.

The so-called “Group of Cluj”, formed of PSD members in Transylvania, used the occasion to call for the resignation of honorary party president Ion Iliescu, party president Mircea Geoana and veteran leader Viorel Hrebenciuc.

The three resisted the coup attempt. As they accepted the failure in their attempt to remove Basescu from office in the referendum - which Basescu won with the support of 75% of voters - Mircea Geoana suggested in statements later that the PSD finds it “difficult” to support the Liberal government any more.

He also said he would not opt out a possible collaboration with Basescu’s main supporter, the Democratic Party.

Also on Monday, the PSD faced three resignations from several second-tier leaders, including Ioan Stan, a deputy and head of the party for the county of Dambovita.

For his part, PD leader Emil Boc said in a TV show late last night that his party may review a provision of its programme that bans a possible collaboration with the PSD.

Last but not least, the leader of another party that opposed Basescu, the Hungarian Democrats (UDMR) - a minority part of the current government - said on Monday that he might abandon his seat in the government. UDMR president Marko Bela said he might withdraw as deputy prime minister “once the situation comes together, once we see how to go on, with what majority”.