The Social Democratic Party (PSD) launched officially on Friday the candidacy of party leader Mircea Geoana for Romania presidency in elections due later this autumn. It is the third time that the candidacy is announced, but this time around it comes as the party withdrew from the government coalition with the Democratic Liberals on Thursday.

A congress of the PSD today saw prominent leaders and officials of the party attacking incumbent Romania President Traian Basescu permanently with speeches that focused on the idea that "Basescu must be stopped".

PSD had blamed Basescu - who is also due to officially announce his candidacy for reelection - for a series of political decisions lately which prompted the party to leave the government.

PSD and Basescu's key supporting party, the Democratic Liberals, have formed a coalition government since parliamentary elections a year ago.