Social Democratic leader says Romanian opposition would support incumbent Sorin Oprescu for Bucharest Mayor

Miercuri, 9 martie 2011, 19:35 English | Politics

The Romanian opposition Social Liberal Union (USL), comprised of Social Democrats and Liberals, would support independent candidate Sorin Oprescu - the current Bucharest Mayor - should he prove to be the solution for an opposition victory in Bucharest local elections, Social Democratic leader Victor Ponta said in an interview with news agency Agerpres on Wednesday. For his part, Oprescu said he was honored by the USL support but that he remained an independent.

Ponta said that USL would support Oprescu even if influential Social Democratic and Liberal district mayors in Bucharest would not be happy by such a move.

But Mayor Sorin Oprescu said he wanted to run as an independent for a second term in office in the next local elections. "If they (USL) want to support me, I will still stick to my position as an independent. I am honored by this support", he said.